NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rahaf

An Arabic feminine name meaning "traveler" or "journey".

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.

Rahaf is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rahaf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1353, with 24 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 24 births.

This profile covers 269 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.

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

We estimate that about 277 living people in the UK are called Rahaf. 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

  • Rahaf ranked #1353 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 24 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 24 girls were registered as Rahaf.
  • Rahaf ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #765 in 2019.
  • About 277 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rahaf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1353

2024

Births in 2024

24

Latest year

Peak year

2024

24 births

Estimated living

277

2026

Meaning

What does Rahaf mean?

The name Rahaf is of Arabic origin. It is derived from the Arabic word "rahf" which means "a gentle breeze" or "a soft wind." The name is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the pre-Islamic era.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rahaf can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature. It was often used as a metaphor to describe a woman's beauty, grace, and elegance.

The name Rahaf gained popularity during the Islamic era, particularly after the advent of Islam in the 7th century. It was embraced by many Muslim families as a beautiful and meaningful name for their daughters.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Rahaf. One of the earliest was Rahaf bint Qudamah (born around 630 CE), a renowned Arab poetess and scholar from the city of Medina. She was celebrated for her eloquence and her contributions to the preservation of Arabic literature.

Another famous Rahaf was Rahaf al-Qudsi (born in the 12th century CE), a Sufi mystic and poet from Damascus. Her works, which explored the themes of love, spirituality, and devotion, were widely admired and influential during her time.

In the 19th century, Rahaf al-Khuri (1836-1891) was a prominent Lebanese writer, journalist, and feminist. She played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and education in the Arab world.

Rahaf Abdulmajeed (born in 1968) is a contemporary Jordanian artist and sculptor. Her works, which often incorporate Arabic calligraphy and Islamic motifs, have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world.

Rahaf Harfoush (born in 1980) is a Canadian-Lebanese author and digital strategist, known for her expertise in social media and digital innovation. She has written several books on the impact of technology on business and society.

While the name Rahaf has been in use for centuries, it continues to be a popular choice among Arabic-speaking families, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. Its connection to the poetic imagery of a gentle breeze and its historical significance have contributed to its enduring appeal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rahaf over time

The chart below shows babies named Rahaf registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 Rahaf, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 24 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rahaf
06121824200320132024

Decades

Rahaf by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rahaf 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 #2203 74 5
2010s #1858 158 10
2000s #3759 37 7

Geography

Where Rahaf is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rahaf. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Rahaf ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #765 in 2019.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Rahaf in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#765 in 2019

3 years of NRS records, 9 total registered

Related

Names similar to Rahaf

FAQ

Rahaf: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rahaf was ranked #1353 for girls in England and Wales, with 24 births registered.

When was Rahaf most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 24 babies registered as Rahaf in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rahaf?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "traveler" or "journey".

How many people are called Rahaf in the UK?

A total of 269 babies have been registered as Rahaf across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.

Where is Rahaf most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Rahaf ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #765 in 2019. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.