UK boy's name
Jafar
A masculine Arabic name meaning "river stream" or "rivulet".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jafar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jafar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 10 births.
This profile covers 109 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 108 living people in the UK are called Jafar. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jafar ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 10 boys were registered as Jafar.
- • About 108 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jafar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3990
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
2016
10 births
Estimated living
108
2026
Meaning
What does Jafar mean?
The name Jafar has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "jafr," which means "river bank" or "stream." The name likely emerged in the Middle East during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE.
In Islamic tradition, the name Jafar is associated with Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the earliest converts to Islam. Ja'far ibn Abi Talib played a significant role in the early history of Islam and is revered by Muslims as a companion of the Prophet and a member of his household.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jafar can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam, where it is mentioned in reference to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib. The name also appears in various hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and historical accounts of the early Islamic period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Jafar. One of the most famous was Jafar al-Sadiq (702-765 CE), a prominent Islamic scholar and theologian who played a crucial role in the development of Shia Islamic jurisprudence. He was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is revered as the sixth Imam by Shia Muslims.
Another historical figure with the name Jafar was Jafar al-Barmaki (767-803 CE), a prominent vizier (minister) during the Abbasid Caliphate. He was known for his wisdom, knowledge, and patronage of scholars and artists.
In the literary realm, Jafar ibn Tawq (d. 815 CE) was a renowned Arabic poet and literary figure during the Abbasid era. His poetry and literary works were highly influential in the development of Arabic literature.
Jafar Khan (1691-1759) was a prominent military commander and governor during the Mughal Empire in India. He played a significant role in the expansion and consolidation of Mughal power in the region.
Jafar Pasha al-Askari (1825-1891) was an Ottoman statesman and military leader who served as the Prime Minister of the Ottoman Empire from 1876 to 1877. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Ottoman military and implement reforms.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jafar over time
The chart below shows babies named Jafar registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jafar, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jafar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jafar 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 | #3919 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #2774 | 57 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3046 | 36 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2443 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Jafar
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jafar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jafar in the UK right now?
In 2021, Jafar was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Jafar most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 10 babies registered as Jafar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jafar?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "river stream" or "rivulet".
How many people are called Jafar in the UK?
A total of 109 babies have been registered as Jafar across the 20 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.