NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Raafay

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who provides sustenance".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Raafay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Raafay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.

This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2003 to 2020. 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 13 living people in the UK are called Raafay. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Raafay ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 boys were registered as Raafay.
  • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Raafay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

4 births

Estimated living

13

2026

Meaning

What does Raafay mean?

The name Raafay is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Arabic language. It is considered to be a variation of the name Rafi, which means "companion" or "companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)".

The name Raafay is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, as it was common for people to name their children after companions of the Prophet Muhammad or other notable figures from the early Islamic era. The earliest recorded use of the name Raafay dates back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Rashidun Caliphate.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Raafay was Raafay ibn Khadij, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who fought in several battles alongside him. He is mentioned in various historical texts and accounts of the early Islamic period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Raafay. One such person was Raafay al-Qaisi, a renowned Arab poet who lived in the 8th century CE. He is known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his poetic works, which are still studied and appreciated today.

Another prominent individual with the name Raafay was Raafay al-Andalusi, a scholar and mathematician who lived in the 10th century CE in the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal). He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.

In the 12th century CE, there was Raafay al-Khazraji, a Sufi mystic and scholar who was known for his spiritual teachings and writings. He was widely respected in his time and is still revered in certain Sufi orders.

More recently, in the 19th century, there was Raafay Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (prime minister) of the Ottoman Empire from 1886 to 1887.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Raafay throughout history, reflecting its Arabic roots and the diverse contexts in which it has been used.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Raafay over time

The chart below shows babies named Raafay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Raafay, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Raafay
01234200320112020

Decades

Raafay by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Raafay 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 #4608 3 1
2000s #3793 10 3

Related

Names similar to Raafay

FAQ

Raafay: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Raafay was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Raafay most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Raafay in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Raafay?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who provides sustenance".

How many people are called Raafay in the UK?

A total of 13 babies have been registered as Raafay across the 4 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.