UK boy's name
Moustapha
From Arabic roots, meaning "the chosen one" or "worthy of esteem".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Moustapha is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Moustapha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 4 births.
This profile covers 17 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2005 to 2023. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 17 living people in the UK are called Moustapha. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Moustapha ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 4 boys were registered as Moustapha.
- • About 17 living people in the UK are estimated to have Moustapha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2017
4 births
Estimated living
17
2026
Meaning
What does Moustapha mean?
The given name Moustapha has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "mustafa", which means "the chosen one" or "the elect". This name holds significant importance in the Islamic faith as it was one of the honorific titles bestowed upon the Prophet Muhammad.
The name Moustapha can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early years of Islam's emergence in the Arabian Peninsula. It was commonly used among the Arab tribes and quickly spread to other regions as Islam expanded. The name's popularity was closely tied to the reverence and admiration for the Prophet Muhammad, who was often referred to as "al-Mustafa" by his followers.
In the Islamic tradition, the name Moustapha is mentioned in various religious texts and historical accounts. The Quran, the holy book of Islam, refers to the Prophet Muhammad as "the chosen one" or "the elect", reinforcing the meaning associated with this name. Additionally, numerous hadith (sayings and traditions of the Prophet) and biographical works on the life of Muhammad further solidify the significance of this name.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Moustapha can be found in the works of Islamic scholars and historians from the 8th and 9th centuries CE, such as Ibn Ishaq and Al-Waqidi, who documented the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Moustapha, including:
1. Moustapha al-Bakri (1014-1094 CE), a renowned Andalusian scholar and geographer who authored the influential work "Book of Roads and Kingdoms". 2. Moustapha Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, who played a pivotal role in the modernization and secularization of the country. 3. Moustapha Akkad (1909-2005), a Syrian-American film producer and director, best known for producing the iconic horror film franchise "Halloween". 4. Moustapha Chouair (1912-1997), a Lebanese poet and writer, considered one of the pioneers of modern Arabic poetry. 5. Moustapha Ouali (born 1944), a Moroccan artist and calligrapher, known for his modern interpretations of Arabic calligraphy.
These are just a few examples of the numerous individuals who have carried the name Moustapha throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and religious significance across various regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Moustapha over time
The chart below shows babies named Moustapha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Moustapha, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Moustapha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Moustapha 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 | #4107 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4479 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Moustapha
- 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
Moustapha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Moustapha in the UK right now?
In 2023, Moustapha was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Moustapha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 4 babies registered as Moustapha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Moustapha?
From Arabic roots, meaning "the chosen one" or "worthy of esteem".
How many people are called Moustapha in the UK?
A total of 17 babies have been registered as Moustapha across the 5 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.