UK girl's name
Nilufer
A Turkish feminine name meaning "water lily flower".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nilufer is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nilufer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5201, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2007 to 2007. 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.
Nilufer is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Nilufer. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nilufer ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 girls were registered as Nilufer.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nilufer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5201
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Nilufer mean?
Nilufer is a name of Persian origin, derived from the words "Nil" meaning "blue" and "Ufer" meaning "river." This name is believed to have originated in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) during the Sassanid Empire (224-651 AD). It was initially used to describe the beautiful blue waters of the rivers that flowed through the region.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nilufer can be traced back to the 9th century AD, when it appeared in several Persian literary works and poems. One of the most notable mentions was in the epic poem "Shahnameh" by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi (940-1020 AD), where a character named Nilufer was described as a beautiful and virtuous woman.
Throughout history, the name Nilufer has been associated with various notable individuals. In the 11th century, Nilufer Khatun was a prominent Persian poet and scholar who was renowned for her contributions to literature and philosophy. Another notable figure was Nilufer Sultan, the daughter of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II (1447-1512), who played a significant role in the cultural and political affairs of the Ottoman Empire.
During the Mughal Empire in India (16th-19th century), the name Nilufer gained popularity among the nobility and aristocracy. One of the most famous Nilufers was Nilufer Begum, the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542-1605), who was known for her beauty, intelligence, and involvement in the arts and literature.
In more recent times, Nilufer Gole (born 1957) is a Turkish sociologist and author who has written extensively on the topics of modernity, Islam, and gender studies. Her works have been influential in shaping academic discourse on these subjects.
Another notable figure with the name Nilufer is Nilufer Bekhowat (born 1969), an Afghan singer and songwriter who has gained widespread recognition for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of Afghan music and culture.
While these are just a few examples, the name Nilufer has been carried by many influential and remarkable individuals throughout history, reflecting its rich cultural and literary heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Nilufer by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nilufer 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5201 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Nilufer
- 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
Nilufer: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nilufer in the UK right now?
In 2007, Nilufer was ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nilufer most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Nilufer in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nilufer?
A Turkish feminine name meaning "water lily flower".
How many people are called Nilufer in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Nilufer across the 1 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.