UK name, mostly girls
Farah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "joy" or "gladness".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Farah is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Farah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #708, with 53 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 84 births.
This profile covers 1,766 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,004 living people in the UK are called Farah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Farah ranked #708 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 53 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 84 girls were registered as Farah.
- • Farah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #407 in 2024.
- • About 2,004 living people in the UK are estimated to have Farah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.5% of Farah registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#708
2024
Births in 2024
53
Latest year
Peak year
2009
84 births
Estimated living
2,004
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Farah
In England and Wales birth records, Farah has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 1.5% of registrations are for boys and 98.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Farah registered for boys
- Ranked #4,810 in 2016
- 3 boys registered in 2016
- Peak: 1997 (4 births)
Farah registered for girls
- Ranked #708 in 2024
- 53 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (84 births)
Meaning
What does Farah mean?
The name Farah has its origins in the Persian language and culture. It is derived from the Persian word "farrah," which means "joy," "happiness," or "radiance." The name has been in use for centuries, dating back to ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran.
In Persian literature and poetry, the word "farrah" is often associated with divine grace, beauty, and spiritual enlightenment. The name Farah is believed to have been popularized during the Sassanid Empire, which ruled over Persia from the 3rd to the 7th century AD.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farah can be found in the Shahnameh, the national epic of Greater Iran, written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between 977 and 1010 AD. In this epic, Farah is mentioned as a beautiful and virtuous woman.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Farah. One of the most famous was Farah Pahlavi, the former Empress of Iran, who was married to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. She was born on October 14, 1938, and played a significant role in promoting women's rights and cultural heritage in Iran.
Another notable figure was Farah Diba, an Egyptian-born actress and singer who appeared in numerous Egyptian films and television shows in the 1950s and 1960s. She was born on October 10, 1935, and was known for her beauty and talent.
In the realm of literature, Farah Bashir is a renowned Pakistani writer and journalist who has authored several books and articles on women's issues and social justice. She was born in 1972 and has received numerous awards for her work.
Farah Khan, born on January 9, 1965, is a prominent Indian film director, choreographer, and actress. She has directed several successful Bollywood films and is known for her unique style and choreography.
Lastly, Farah Fawcett was an American actress and model who rose to fame in the 1970s for her role in the television series "Charlie's Angels." She was born on February 2, 1947, and became an iconic figure in popular culture, known for her beauty and acting talent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Farah over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Farah in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Farah, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 53 births in 2024, compared with 84 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Farah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Farah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #796 | 233 | 5 |
| 2010s | #674 | 610 | 10 |
| 2000s | #495 | 694 | 10 |
| 1990s | #506 | 229 | 4 |
Geography
Where Farah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Farah. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Farah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #407 in 2024.
Across the UK
Farah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#540 in 2023
31 years of NRS records, 161 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#407 in 2024
16 years of NISRA records, 88 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Farah
-
Farah Crompton
association football player
English footballer
2002-
-
Farah Mendlesohn
historian; university teacher; science fiction scholar; researcher; literary critic
British academic and writer on science fiction and fantasy literature
1968-
-
Farah Damji
writer
Ugandan charged with financial and stalking crimes
1966-
Related
Names similar to Farah
- Freya 50,564
- Florence 32,908
- Francesca 18,752
- Faith 14,325
- Fatima 11,112
- Faye 8,999
- Felicity 8,554
- Frankie 6,977
- Ffion 6,115
- Flora 3,499
- Frances 3,417
- Fatimah 3,065
FAQ
Farah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Farah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Farah was ranked #708 for girls in England and Wales, with 53 births registered.
When was Farah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 84 babies registered as Farah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Farah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "joy" or "gladness".
How many people are called Farah in the UK?
A total of 1,766 babies have been registered as Farah across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 161 more in Scotland and 88 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Farah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Farah ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #407 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.