NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Farhad

A Persian masculine name meaning "one who brings joy or happiness".

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.

Farhad is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Farhad popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 11 births.

This profile covers 142 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 45% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 141 living people in the UK are called Farhad. 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

  • Farhad ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 11 boys were registered as Farhad.
  • About 141 living people in the UK are estimated to have Farhad as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2000

11 births

Estimated living

141

2026

Meaning

What does Farhad mean?

The name Farhad has its origins in the Persian language and can be traced back to ancient Persia, which is now modern-day Iran. It is derived from the Persian words "farr" meaning "glory" or "splendor" and "hād" meaning "having" or "possessing." The name Farhad, therefore, carries the meaning of "having glory" or "possessing splendor."

The name Farhad has a strong connection to Persian literature and mythology. One of the earliest and most famous references to the name can be found in the epic poem "Khosrow and Shirin" by the renowned Persian poet Nezami Ganjavi, who lived in the 12th century. In this poem, Farhad is a young sculptor who falls deeply in love with the beautiful Princess Shirin. His love for her is so intense that he agrees to carve a path through a mountain in order to win her hand in marriage.

Throughout history, the name Farhad has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded examples is Farhad Mirza, a Persian prince who lived in the 15th century and was known for his patronage of the arts and literature. Another famous bearer of the name was Farhad Pasha, a 16th-century Ottoman statesman and military commander who played a significant role in the Ottoman conquest of Hungary.

In the realm of literature, the name Farhad is associated with the renowned Persian poet Farhad Darviš, who lived in the 19th century and is celebrated for his contributions to the development of modern Persian poetry. Additionally, Farhad Daftary, a renowned scholar of Ismaili and Islamic studies, was born in 1937 and has authored numerous books and articles on these subjects.

Moving into the modern era, Farhad Moshiri, an Iranian businessman and philanthropist born in 1941, is known for his significant contributions to various charitable organizations and educational institutions in Iran and abroad. Moreover, Farhad Manjoo, born in 1978, is an American journalist and technology writer who has worked for publications such as The New York Times and Slate.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Farhad throughout history. The name's rich cultural heritage and symbolic meaning of "having glory" or "possessing splendor" have undoubtedly contributed to its enduring popularity across various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Farhad over time

The chart below shows babies named Farhad registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Farhad, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Farhad
036811199620102024

Decades

Farhad by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Farhad 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 #4148 8 2
2010s #3514 35 7
2000s #2298 69 10
1990s #1563 30 4

Related

Names similar to Farhad

FAQ

Farhad: questions and answers

How popular is the name Farhad in the UK right now?

In 2024, Farhad was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Farhad most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 11 babies registered as Farhad in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Farhad?

A Persian masculine name meaning "one who brings joy or happiness".

How many people are called Farhad in the UK?

A total of 142 babies have been registered as Farhad across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.