UK boy's name
Maruf
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "known" or "distinguished".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Maruf is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Maruf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3822, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 8 births.
This profile covers 72 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 71 living people in the UK are called Maruf. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Maruf ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 8 boys were registered as Maruf.
- • About 71 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maruf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3822
2013
Births in 2013
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
8 births
Estimated living
71
2026
Meaning
What does Maruf mean?
The name Maruf has its roots in Arabic, originating from the word "ma'ruf" which means "known" or "well-known." It is believed to have emerged around the 7th century CE, during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
Maruf is a name with strong Islamic connotations and can be found mentioned in several religious texts and historical records from the Middle East and North Africa. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the Quran, where it is used to describe those who are virtuous and righteous.
The name Maruf gained popularity across the Islamic world, with numerous historical figures bearing this name. One notable example is Maruf al-Karkhi, a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar who lived in the 9th century CE in present-day Iraq. He is remembered for his contributions to Islamic mysticism and his teachings on spiritual purification.
Another prominent figure with the name Maruf was Maruf al-Rusafi, an influential Arab poet from the 19th century CE. Born in Baghdad in 1875, he played a crucial role in reviving classical Arabic poetry and is considered one of the foremost poets of the Nahda, the Arab literary renaissance.
In the 11th century CE, Maruf al-Balkhi, a Persian scholar and writer, gained recognition for his works on Islamic jurisprudence and his contributions to the development of Persian literature.
The name Maruf also found its way into the Ottoman Empire, with Maruf Efendi, a prominent Ottoman calligrapher and poet from the 16th century CE, becoming a notable figure in the artistic circles of Istanbul.
Throughout history, the name Maruf has been associated with individuals known for their knowledge, wisdom, and virtuous character, reflecting the meaning of the name itself. While its origins can be traced back to the Arabian Peninsula, it has transcended cultural boundaries and been embraced by various communities within the Islamic world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Maruf over time
The chart below shows babies named Maruf registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Maruf, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2013, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maruf by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maruf 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 | #3744 | 17 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3290 | 34 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2137 | 21 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Maruf
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Maruf: questions and answers
How popular is the name Maruf in the UK right now?
In 2013, Maruf was ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Maruf most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 8 babies registered as Maruf in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Maruf?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "known" or "distinguished".
How many people are called Maruf in the UK?
A total of 72 babies have been registered as Maruf across the 16 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.