UK boy's name
Faruq
The one who discerns the right way; distinguisher of truth.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Faruq is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Faruq popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3959, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 10 births.
This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 1997 to 2018. 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Faruq. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Faruq ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 10 boys were registered as Faruq.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Faruq as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3959
2018
Births in 2018
4
Latest year
Peak year
2006
10 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Faruq mean?
The name Faruq has its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic root word "farq," which means "to distinguish" or "to separate." The name Faruq is a combination of this root word and the Arabic definite article "al," forming "al-Faruq," which translates to "the one who distinguishes truth from falsehood."
The name Faruq has a strong historical significance in Islamic history. It was one of the titles bestowed upon Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, who ruled from 634 to 644 CE. Umar was given this title for his ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and for his unwavering commitment to justice and truth.
The earliest recorded use of the name Faruq can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Rashidun Caliphate. It gained widespread popularity among Muslims due to its association with Umar ibn al-Khattab, who is revered as one of the most influential and respected figures in Islamic history.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Faruq. One of the earliest examples is Faruq al-Isfahani (850-930 CE), a renowned Arabic philologist and scholar of literature. Another notable bearer of the name was Faruq al-Nuri (1853-1915), an Ottoman writer and journalist who played a significant role in the literary renaissance of the Arab world.
Faruq I (1920-1965) was the last King of Egypt and Sudan, reigning from 1936 until his abdication in 1952. He is remembered for his attempts to modernize and industrialize Egypt, as well as his involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
In more recent times, Faruq El-Baz (born 1938) is an Egyptian-American scientist and geologist who played a crucial role in the NASA Apollo program, helping to select landing sites for the lunar missions.
Another notable bearer of the name is Faruq Z. Bey (born 1957), an American author and scholar who has written extensively on Islamic mysticism and Sufism.
The name Faruq continues to be popular among Muslims around the world, particularly in Arab countries and regions with significant Arab or Islamic cultural influence. It carries a strong symbolic meaning and historical significance, representing the ideals of justice, truth, and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Faruq over time
The chart below shows babies named Faruq registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Faruq, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2018, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Faruq by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Faruq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3885 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2838 | 35 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Faruq
- 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
Faruq: questions and answers
How popular is the name Faruq in the UK right now?
In 2018, Faruq was ranked #3959 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Faruq most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 10 babies registered as Faruq in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Faruq?
The one who discerns the right way; distinguisher of truth.
How many people are called Faruq in the UK?
A total of 50 babies have been registered as Faruq across the 11 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.