NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Fariah

An Arabic feminine name meaning "beautiful, delightful".

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.

Fariah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fariah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 8 births.

This profile covers 77 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1997 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 77 living people in the UK are called Fariah. 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

  • Fariah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 8 girls were registered as Fariah.
  • About 77 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fariah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2017

8 births

Estimated living

77

2026

Meaning

What does Fariah mean?

The name Fariah is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, where it is derived from the word "farr," which means "glory" or "radiance." This name has been used in various cultures and regions throughout history, particularly in the Middle East and Central Asia.

In ancient Persian mythology, "farr" was a divine glory or aura that was bestowed upon kings and heroes. It was a symbol of divine favor and was believed to grant them power, strength, and legitimacy to rule. As such, the name Fariah may have been used to honor individuals who were considered to possess this divine radiance or were seen as embodiments of glory.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Fariah can be traced back to the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century. During this time, the name was commonly used among Persian and Arabic-speaking communities, and it may have held religious or spiritual significance within these cultures.

One notable historical figure who bore the name Fariah was Fariah Al-Qurashi, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century. She was widely celebrated for her knowledge of the Quran and her contributions to Arabic literature. Another early figure was Fariah Al-Khatun, a Persian princess and poet who lived in the 12th century and was known for her beautiful verses and patronage of the arts.

In the 13th century, Fariah Al-Samarra'i was a prominent Islamic jurist and theologian from modern-day Iraq. He was highly respected for his expertise in Islamic law and his teachings on various aspects of Islamic jurisprudence.

During the Mughal Empire in India, which ruled from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Fariah was also used among the nobility and upper classes. One notable figure from this era was Fariah Begum, a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar, who lived in the late 16th century.

In more recent history, Fariah Al-Jaziri was a Syrian writer and activist who lived in the early 20th century. She was known for her advocacy of women's rights and her efforts to promote education and social reform in the Middle East.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Fariah, but there are undoubtedly many more whose stories and legacies have been lost to time. Regardless, the name Fariah remains a beautiful and significant name with a rich cultural heritage and a connection to concepts of divine glory and radiance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Fariah over time

The chart below shows babies named Fariah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Fariah, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Fariah
02468199720102024

Decades

Fariah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fariah 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 #5263 7 2
2010s #4440 43 9
2000s #4765 23 7
1990s #3174 4 1

Related

Names similar to Fariah

FAQ

Fariah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Fariah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Fariah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 8 babies registered as Fariah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Fariah?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "beautiful, delightful".

How many people are called Fariah in the UK?

A total of 77 babies have been registered as Fariah across the 19 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.