UK boy's name
Kashif
An Arabic name meaning the one who unveils or reveals the truth.
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.
Kashif is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kashif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 37 births.
This profile covers 385 England and Wales registrations across 25 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.
The latest count is about 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 416 living people in the UK are called Kashif. 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
- • Kashif ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 37 boys were registered as Kashif.
- • Kashif ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #305 in 1993.
- • About 416 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kashif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
1996
37 births
Estimated living
416
2026
Meaning
What does Kashif mean?
The name Kashif has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with its earliest roots dating back to the 7th century CE. The name is derived from the Arabic word "kashafa," which means "to reveal" or "to uncover." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been associated with the concept of unveiling or revealing knowledge or truth.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kashif can be found in the 9th century CE, when it was borne by Kashif al-Baghdadi, a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of algebra. His works, including the "Book of Algebra and Muqabala," laid the foundations for modern algebraic concepts.
In the 11th century CE, the name Kashif gained prominence with Kashif al-Din Muhammad al-Husayni, a Persian Sufi scholar and poet. He was known for his extensive literary works, including his commentary on the Qur'an, which was highly regarded in the Islamic world.
Another notable figure with the name Kashif was Kashif al-Ghita, an Iraqi scholar and historian who lived in the 13th century CE. He authored several books on Islamic history, including the "Book of Unveiling the Hidden," which provided insights into the lives of notable Muslim figures.
In the 15th century CE, Kashif al-Waziri, an Egyptian scholar and jurist, made significant contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and legal theory. His works, such as "The Book of Unveiling the Obscurities," became influential references in the field of Islamic law.
During the 16th century CE, Kashif al-Husayni, a Persian poet and calligrapher, gained recognition for his masterful calligraphic works and poetic compositions. His intricate calligraphic pieces adorned various manuscripts and architectural structures, showcasing the artistic expression of the name Kashif.
These are just a few examples of the prominent figures who have borne the name Kashif throughout history, each contributing to various fields of knowledge and leaving a lasting impact on their respective cultures and societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kashif over time
The chart below shows babies named Kashif 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 Kashif, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 37 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kashif by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kashif 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 | #3937 | 13 | 3 |
| 2010s | #2896 | 58 | 8 |
| 2000s | #1093 | 208 | 10 |
| 1990s | #656 | 106 | 4 |
Geography
Where Kashif is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kashif. 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.
Kashif ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #305 in 1993.
Across the UK
Kashif in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#305 in 1993
9 years of NRS records, 36 total registered
Related
Names similar to Kashif
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kashif: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kashif in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kashif was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Kashif most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 37 babies registered as Kashif in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kashif?
An Arabic name meaning the one who unveils or reveals the truth.
How many people are called Kashif in the UK?
A total of 385 babies have been registered as Kashif across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 36 more in Scotland.
Where is Kashif most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Kashif ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #305 in 1993. 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.