NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Farhan

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "joy" or "prosperous".

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.

Farhan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Farhan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #757, with 45 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 117 births.

This profile covers 1,692 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,721 living people in the UK are called Farhan. 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

  • Farhan ranked #757 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 45 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 117 boys were registered as Farhan.
  • Farhan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
  • About 1,721 living people in the UK are estimated to have Farhan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#757

2024

Births in 2024

45

Latest year

Peak year

2008

117 births

Estimated living

1,721

2026

Meaning

What does Farhan mean?

The name Farhan is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "farhan," which means "joy" or "happiness." It is believed to have emerged during the early years of Islam, around the 7th century AD.

The name Farhan gained popularity in the Middle East and throughout the Islamic world, where it was commonly bestowed upon newborn boys as a symbol of the joy and happiness they brought to their families.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Farhan can be found in the works of renowned Arabic poets and scholars from the 8th and 9th centuries. These literary works often celebrated the virtues of happiness and contentment, making the name Farhan a fitting choice for those seeking to embody these ideals.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Farhan. One such individual was Farhan al-Kindi, a renowned scholar and mathematician who lived during the 9th century AD. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra, optics, and philosophy, and his works were widely studied in the Islamic world.

Another prominent figure with the name Farhan was Farhan al-Maliki, a 12th-century jurist and legal scholar from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). His expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and his efforts to reconcile different legal schools of thought earned him widespread respect and admiration.

In the literary realm, Farhan Akhtar, an Indian actor, director, and screenwriter born in 1974, has achieved remarkable success. His critically acclaimed films, such as "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara," have garnered numerous awards and accolades.

Farhan Qureshi, a Pakistani businessman and philanthropist born in 1968, is also noteworthy for his contributions to education and social welfare initiatives in his country. His efforts have positively impacted countless lives, exemplifying the spirit of joy and happiness associated with his name.

Lastly, Farhan Akhtar, an Emirati cricketer born in 1990, has made his mark in the world of sports. He has represented the United Arab Emirates national cricket team in various international tournaments and is widely recognized for his exceptional batting skills.

From scholars and jurists to artists and athletes, the name Farhan has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, each leaving their unique mark on history and embodying the essence of joy and happiness that the name represents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Farhan over time

The chart below shows babies named Farhan 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 Farhan, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 45 births in 2024, compared with 117 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Farhan
0295988117199620102024

Decades

Farhan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Farhan 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 #933 167 5
2010s #615 638 10
2000s #402 756 10
1990s #557 131 4

Geography

Where Farhan is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Farhan. 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.

Farhan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Farhan in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#727 in 2024

11 years of NRS records, 42 total registered

Related

Names similar to Farhan

FAQ

Farhan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Farhan was ranked #757 for boys in England and Wales, with 45 births registered.

When was Farhan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 117 babies registered as Farhan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Farhan?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "joy" or "prosperous".

How many people are called Farhan in the UK?

A total of 1,692 babies have been registered as Farhan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 42 more in Scotland.

Where is Farhan most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Farhan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #727 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.