NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Rafsan

A name of Arabic origin meaning "lion" or "brave".

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.

Rafsan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rafsan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1859, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 13 births.

This profile covers 60 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2010 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.

Rafsan is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 60 living people in the UK are called Rafsan. 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

  • Rafsan ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 13 boys were registered as Rafsan.
  • About 60 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rafsan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1859

2024

Births in 2024

13

Latest year

Peak year

2024

13 births

Estimated living

60

2026

Meaning

What does Rafsan mean?

Rafsan is a name with roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "rafs," which means "to sew" or "to stitch." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle Eastern region during the medieval period, when the art of weaving and embroidery was highly valued.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Rafsan can be traced back to historical texts and records from the 9th and 10th centuries AD. It was a name commonly given to skilled artisans and craftsmen who specialized in weaving intricate patterns and designs on fabrics.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Rafsan was a renowned Persian weaver who lived in the city of Isfahan during the 10th century. His exquisite silk tapestries and carpets were highly sought after by nobility and wealthy patrons across the region.

In the 12th century, a famous poet and scholar from Andalusia, known as Rafsan al-Qurtubi, gained recognition for his contributions to Arabic literature and philosophy. His works explored the themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, earning him a place among the celebrated poets of the Islamic Golden Age.

During the 14th century, a skilled architect named Rafsan al-Baghdadi was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several magnificent mosques and palaces in the city of Baghdad. His architectural masterpieces, adorned with intricate tile work and calligraphy, are still regarded as some of the finest examples of Islamic architecture from that era.

Another notable figure bearing the name Rafsan was a 16th-century Ottoman calligrapher known as Hafiz Rafsan. He was renowned for his mastery of the intricate art of Arabic calligraphy, and his works were highly prized by the Ottoman sultans and nobility.

In the 19th century, a famous Afghan poet and mystic named Rafsan Khan Khatak gained recognition for his spiritual verses and teachings. His poetry, which drew inspiration from Sufi traditions, explored themes of love, devotion, and the pursuit of inner peace.

While the name Rafsan has its roots in the Arab and Islamic cultures, it has also been adopted and used in various other regions and cultures over the centuries, reflecting the widespread influence of Arabic language and traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rafsan over time

The chart below shows babies named Rafsan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 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 Rafsan, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rafsan
0371013201020172024

Decades

Rafsan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rafsan 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 #2606 46 5
2010s #4342 14 4

Related

Names similar to Rafsan

FAQ

Rafsan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rafsan was ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.

When was Rafsan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 13 babies registered as Rafsan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rafsan?

A name of Arabic origin meaning "lion" or "brave".

How many people are called Rafsan in the UK?

A total of 60 babies have been registered as Rafsan across the 9 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.