NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Faris

A masculine Arabic name meaning "knight" or "mounted warrior.".

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.

Faris is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Faris popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #376, with 111 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 111 births.

This profile covers 1,672 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.

Faris is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 1,697 living people in the UK are called Faris. 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

  • Faris ranked #376 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 111 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 111 boys were registered as Faris.
  • Faris ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.
  • About 1,697 living people in the UK are estimated to have Faris as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#376

2024

Births in 2024

111

Latest year

Peak year

2024

111 births

Estimated living

1,697

2026

Meaning

What does Faris mean?

The name Faris originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in ancient Arabian culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "faras," which means "knight" or "horseman." The name Faris is believed to have emerged during the early Islamic era, when skilled horsemen played a significant role in battles and the spread of the Islamic faith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Faris can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. It is mentioned in reference to skilled riders and warriors. This association with bravery and chivalry has contributed to the name's enduring popularity in the Arabic-speaking world.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Faris. One of the most famous was Faris al-Khayr (1023-1087), a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer from Persia. His contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry were groundbreaking, and he is credited with introducing the concept of sine and cosine functions.

Another prominent individual with the name Faris was Faris ibn Yahya (1240-1265), a Mamluk sultan who ruled over Egypt and Syria during the 13th century. He was known for his military prowess and for leading successful campaigns against the Crusaders and the Mongols.

In the 14th century, Faris al-Din Aktai (1345-1389) was a powerful military commander in the service of the Mamluk Sultanate. He played a crucial role in defending Cairo against the Mongol invasion and is remembered for his strategic leadership and tactical skills.

Moving forward in time, Faris al-Khoury (1877-1962) was a prominent Lebanese politician and statesman who served as the first prime minister of Lebanon after the country gained independence from France in 1943.

More recently, Faris Al-Rashid (1933-2017) was a renowned Iraqi poet and writer, known for his contributions to modern Arabic literature. His works explored themes of love, identity, and the human condition, earning him widespread acclaim in the Arab world.

While the name Faris has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly among Muslim communities. The name's association with bravery, honor, and skill in horsemanship has contributed to its enduring appeal across generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Faris over time

The chart below shows babies named Faris 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 Faris, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 111 births in 2024, compared with 111 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Faris
0285683111199620102024

Decades

Faris by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Faris 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 #512 393 5
2010s #529 707 10
2000s #554 508 10
1990s #923 64 4

Geography

Where Faris is most common

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

Faris ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.

Scotland
8

Across the UK

Faris in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#404 in 2024

10 years of NRS records, 36 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Faris

  • Faris Badwan

    singer; guitarist

    English rock musician

    1986-

  • Faris Glubb

    writer; historian

    British writer (1939–2004)

    1939-2004

  • Faris Kermani

    film director

    English film director

Related

Names similar to Faris

FAQ

Faris: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Faris was ranked #376 for boys in England and Wales, with 111 births registered.

When was Faris most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 111 babies registered as Faris in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Faris?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "knight" or "mounted warrior.".

How many people are called Faris in the UK?

A total of 1,672 babies have been registered as Faris across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 36 more in Scotland.

Where is Faris most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Faris ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #404 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.