UK girl's name
Farrah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "joyous" or "happy".
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.
Farrah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Farrah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1603, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 95 births.
This profile covers 1,261 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,923 living people in the UK are called Farrah. 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
- • Farrah ranked #1603 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 95 girls were registered as Farrah.
- • Farrah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #150 in 2024.
- • About 1,923 living people in the UK are estimated to have Farrah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1603
2024
Births in 2024
19
Latest year
Peak year
2012
95 births
Estimated living
1,923
2026
Meaning
What does Farrah mean?
The name Farrah has its origins in the Persian language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Persian word "farr," which means "splendor" or "glory." The name was popular among the Persian nobility and aristocracy, often given to daughters as a symbol of their family's prestige and honor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farrah can be found in the ancient Persian epic poem, the Shahnameh, written by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. In the epic, Farrah is mentioned as the daughter of a powerful king, highlighting the regal connotations of the name.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Farrah. One of the most famous was Farrah Diba (1938-present), the former Empress of Iran and the third wife of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Her beauty and elegance made her an iconic figure in the 1960s and 1970s.
Another prominent figure was Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009), an American actress and model best known for her role in the television series "Charlie's Angels." Her stunning looks and feathered hairstyle made her a cultural icon in the 1970s and helped popularize the name Farrah in the Western world.
In ancient Egyptian history, Farrah was the name of a priestess who served in the temple of Isis during the reign of Ramses II (1279-1213 BC). She was renowned for her wisdom and spiritual guidance, and her name was inscribed on temple walls as a symbol of her devotion.
The name Farrah has also been associated with Islamic culture and history. One notable figure was Farrah Naaz (1957-present), an Indian actress and dancer who rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s in Bollywood films. Her name, which means "beauty" or "glamour" in Persian, reflected her on-screen persona and contributed to the popularity of the name in South Asia.
Farrah has been a popular name across various cultures and time periods, carrying connotations of beauty, splendor, and grace. Its rich history and cultural significance have made it a timeless and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with a strong heritage and meaningful origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Farrah over time
The chart below shows babies named Farrah 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 Farrah, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 95 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Farrah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Farrah 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 | #1489 | 105 | 5 |
| 2010s | #753 | 609 | 10 |
| 2000s | #728 | 415 | 10 |
| 1990s | #715 | 132 | 4 |
Geography
Where Farrah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Farrah. 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.
Farrah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #150 in 2024.
Across the UK
Farrah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#351 in 2024
25 years of NRS records, 262 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#150 in 2024
21 years of NISRA records, 410 total registered
Related
Names similar to Farrah
- Freya 50,564
- Florence 32,908
- Francesca 18,752
- Faith 14,325
- Fatima 11,112
- Faye 8,999
- Felicity 8,554
- Frankie 6,977
- Ffion 6,115
- Flora 3,499
- Frances 3,417
- Fatimah 3,065
FAQ
Farrah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Farrah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Farrah was ranked #1603 for girls in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.
When was Farrah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 95 babies registered as Farrah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Farrah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "joyous" or "happy".
How many people are called Farrah in the UK?
A total of 1,261 babies have been registered as Farrah across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 262 more in Scotland and 410 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Farrah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Farrah ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #150 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.