UK girl's name
Nafas
An Arabic feminine name meaning "breath of life" or "soul".
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.
Nafas is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nafas popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 7 births.
This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2018 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 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Nafas. 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
- • Nafas ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 7 girls were registered as Nafas.
- • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nafas as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2023
7 births
Estimated living
23
2026
Meaning
What does Nafas mean?
The name Nafas has its origins in the Arabic language, and it can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam in the Middle East. The word "nafas" in Arabic means "breath" or "soul," reflecting the significance of this name in the cultural and religious context of the time.
In the early days of Islam, the name Nafas was often given to children as a reminder of the importance of the soul and the breath of life, which were seen as divine gifts. The name carried a spiritual connotation and was intended to instill in the bearer a sense of gratitude and reverence for the creator.
While the name Nafas does not appear explicitly in the Quran or other religious scriptures, its meaning resonates with the teachings of Islam, which emphasize the sanctity of life and the interconnectedness of all living beings.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nafas can be found in the writings of the renowned Arabic poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Maarri, who lived from 973 to 1057 AD. In his poetry, he made references to individuals bearing the name Nafas, suggesting its use during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nafas. One such person was Nafas al-Baghdadi (1142-1225 AD), a celebrated physician and philosopher from Baghdad, who made significant contributions to the field of medicine during the Islamic Golden Age.
Another prominent individual was Nafas al-Dimashqi (1201-1276 AD), a Syrian scholar and poet who was renowned for his mastery of Arabic literature and his influential works on poetry and linguistics.
In the 14th century, Nafas al-Qahiri (1305-1372 AD), a renowned Egyptian architect and engineer, left an indelible mark on the architectural landscape of Cairo with his innovative designs and construction techniques.
During the Ottoman Empire, Nafas Pasha (1634-1691 AD) was a distinguished military leader and statesman who played a pivotal role in the expansion and governance of the empire's territories.
In more recent times, Nafas Ahmad (1920-1998 AD), a Pakistani poet and writer, gained recognition for his contributions to Urdu literature and his powerful depictions of the struggles and aspirations of the common people.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Nafas throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the regions they hailed from.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nafas over time
The chart below shows babies named Nafas registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 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 Nafas, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nafas by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nafas 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 | #3790 | 17 | 3 |
| 2010s | #5629 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nafas
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nafas: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nafas in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nafas was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Nafas most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 7 babies registered as Nafas in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nafas?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "breath of life" or "soul".
How many people are called Nafas in the UK?
A total of 23 babies have been registered as Nafas 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.