UK boy's name
Farooq
An Arabic name meaning "one who distinguishes between truth and falsehood".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Farooq is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Farooq popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 6 births.
This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Farooq. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Farooq ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 6 boys were registered as Farooq.
- • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Farooq as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
6 births
Estimated living
51
2026
Meaning
What does Farooq mean?
The name Farooq is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Islamic faith and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "farq," which means "to distinguish" or "to separate." The name is believed to have emerged during the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE.
In Islamic tradition, the name Farooq is closely associated with one of the most revered companions of Prophet Muhammad, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, who was also known as "Al-Farooq" (The Criterion). This title was bestowed upon him for his ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and for his unwavering commitment to upholding Islamic principles.
The name Farooq first gained prominence in the early Islamic era and is mentioned in various historical accounts and religious texts, including the Hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) and the Sirah (biographies of the Prophet). One notable example is the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah, where the Prophet Muhammad referred to Abu Bakr as "Al-Farooq" for his wisdom and discernment.
Throughout history, several influential figures have borne the name Farooq. One of the earliest recorded examples is Farooq ibn Qais, a renowned Arab poet who lived during the pre-Islamic era in the 6th century CE. Another notable figure is Farooq Naimuddin, a 13th-century Sufi saint and philosopher from modern-day Pakistan, known for his spiritual teachings and contributions to Islamic mysticism.
In the modern era, the name Farooq has been carried by several prominent individuals, including:
1. Farooq Abdullah (born 1937), an Indian politician and the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. 2. Farooq Hameed (1935-2008), a Pakistani cricketer and former captain of the national team. 3. Farooq Leghari (1940-2010), a Pakistani politician who served as the President of Pakistan from 1993 to 1997. 4. Farooq Azam (born 1942), a Pakistani microbiologist and marine ecologist known for his contributions to the study of marine microbial ecology. 5. Farooq Naeem (born 1942), a Pakistani jurist and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
These individuals, among many others, have carried the name Farooq with distinction and have left their mark in various fields, including politics, sports, academia, and law.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Farooq over time
The chart below shows babies named Farooq registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Farooq, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Farooq by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Farooq 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 | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4120 | 15 | 4 |
| 2000s | #2981 | 22 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2593 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Farooq
- Freddie 46,945
- Finley 42,410
- Frederick 19,866
- Finlay 17,879
- Frankie 17,528
- Finn 14,413
- Felix 14,361
- Fraser 6,470
- Flynn 6,170
- Frank 5,992
- Filip 5,876
- Francis 5,744
FAQ
Farooq: questions and answers
How popular is the name Farooq in the UK right now?
In 2020, Farooq was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Farooq most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 6 babies registered as Farooq in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Farooq?
An Arabic name meaning "one who distinguishes between truth and falsehood".
How many people are called Farooq in the UK?
A total of 51 babies have been registered as Farooq across the 13 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.