NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Moustafa

An Arabic masculine name meaning "the chosen one".

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.

Moustafa is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Moustafa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.

This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 22 living people in the UK are called Moustafa. 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

  • Moustafa ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 boys were registered as Moustafa.
  • About 22 living people in the UK are estimated to have Moustafa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

4 births

Estimated living

22

2026

Meaning

What does Moustafa mean?

The name Moustafa has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the 6th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic root word "mustafa," which means "the chosen one" or "the elect." This name holds significant importance in Islamic tradition as it was one of the titles given to the Prophet Muhammad.

Moustafa is a variant spelling of the Arabic name Mustafa, which has been widely used across the Middle East and North Africa for centuries. In some regions, such as Egypt and Syria, the spelling Moustafa became more prevalent due to local dialectal variations and influences.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Moustafa can be found in the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam. In several verses, the Prophet Muhammad is referred to as "Al-Mustafa," which translates to "the chosen one." This association with the Prophet has contributed to the name's widespread popularity among Muslims worldwide.

Throughout history, there have been numerous notable individuals who bore the name Moustafa. One of the most famous examples is Moustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. He played a pivotal role in the Turkish War of Independence and the establishment of modern Turkey.

Another prominent figure was Moustafa al-Nahaas (1879-1965), an Egyptian politician and nationalist leader who served as Prime Minister of Egypt on multiple occasions. He was a key figure in Egypt's struggle for independence from British rule.

In the realm of literature, Moustafa Saadeq Al-Rafe'i (1880-1937) was an influential Egyptian writer, journalist, and intellectual known for his contributions to modern Arabic literature and his advocacy for social and political reform.

The name Moustafa also appears in the historical records of the Ottoman Empire. Moustafa Reşid Pasha (1800-1858) was a prominent Ottoman statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in the implementation of the Tanzimat reforms, which aimed to modernize and Westernize the Ottoman state.

Another notable figure was Moustafa Fahmi (1888-1914), an Egyptian nationalist and one of the founders of the Egyptian Nationalist Party. He was instrumental in the struggle against British occupation and advocated for Egyptian independence.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Moustafa, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and religious significance in the Arab and Islamic world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Moustafa over time

The chart below shows babies named Moustafa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Moustafa, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Moustafa
01234199720102024

Decades

Moustafa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Moustafa 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 #5119 3 1
2010s #4810 3 1
2000s #3385 9 3
1990s #2619 7 2

Related

Names similar to Moustafa

FAQ

Moustafa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Moustafa in the UK right now?

In 2024, Moustafa was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Moustafa most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Moustafa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Moustafa?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "the chosen one".

How many people are called Moustafa in the UK?

A total of 22 babies have been registered as Moustafa across the 7 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.