UK boy's name
Latif
A masculine Arabic name meaning kind, gentle, generous, or benevolent.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Latif is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Latif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3449, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 6 births.
This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 83% 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 Latif. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Latif ranked #3449 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 6 boys were registered as Latif.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Latif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3449
2022
Births in 2022
5
Latest year
Peak year
2011
6 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Latif mean?
The name Latif finds its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Arabic word "latif," which means "gentle," "refined," or "delicate." The name carries connotations of elegance, grace, and subtlety.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Latif can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quran, the word "latif" is used to describe one of the attributes of Allah, the Supreme Being, signifying His subtlety and kindness.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Latif. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Latif al-Baghdadi, a renowned Arab poet and scholar who lived in the 9th century AD (born around 796 AD, died around 869 AD). His works were highly influential in the development of Arabic literature and poetry.
Another significant figure with the name Latif was Khwaja Latif Mahmud, a Persian poet and mystic who lived in the 14th century (born around 1320 AD, died in 1389 AD). He was a prominent member of the Naqshbandi Sufi order and is renowned for his spiritual poetry and teachings.
In more recent history, Latif Blessing (born in 1939) is a notable American poet and author who has published several collections of poetry and received numerous literary awards for his work.
Latif Al-Haydari (born in 1940) was an Iraqi politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq from 1992 to 1994.
Latif Yahia (born in 1964) is an Iraqi author and former bodyguard who gained notoriety for his memoir detailing his experience as a body double for Uday Hussein, the son of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The name Latif has transcended cultural and geographic boundaries, with variations and adaptations found in different languages and regions. However, its roots remain firmly grounded in the rich linguistic and cultural tapestry of the Arabic world, carrying with it a sense of refinement and grace that has endured through the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Latif over time
The chart below shows babies named Latif registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Latif, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Latif by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Latif 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 | #3449 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3775 | 22 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3958 | 15 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2347 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Latif
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Latif: questions and answers
How popular is the name Latif in the UK right now?
In 2022, Latif was ranked #3449 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Latif most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 6 babies registered as Latif in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Latif?
A masculine Arabic name meaning kind, gentle, generous, or benevolent.
How many people are called Latif in the UK?
A total of 50 babies have been registered as Latif 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.