UK boy's name
Rauf
A Muslim baby name derived from Arabic meaning "exalted, sublime".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rauf is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rauf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 6 births.
This profile covers 39 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2004 to 2021. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 39 living people in the UK are called Rauf. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rauf ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 6 boys were registered as Rauf.
- • About 39 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rauf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
6 births
Estimated living
39
2026
Meaning
What does Rauf mean?
The name Rauf has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It derives from the Arabic root word "ra'afa," which means "to be kind" or "to show mercy." The earliest known use of the name dates back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age in the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rauf can be found in the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam. The name is mentioned in verse 48:29, which refers to a group of believers who were "raufun" or kind and merciful towards one another.
In the 10th century, a famous Muslim scholar and jurist named Rauf al-Baghdadi lived in Baghdad, Iraq. He was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and played a significant role in shaping the legal traditions of the Hanafi school of Islamic law.
During the 12th century, a prominent Persian poet and mystic named Rauf al-Din Isfahani lived in Isfahan, Iran. He is best known for his epic poem "Rawdat al-Anwar," which explored themes of spirituality and divine love.
In the 14th century, a renowned Muslim traveler and explorer named Ibn Battuta mentioned a village called Rauf in his famous travelogue "Rihla." The village was located in modern-day Uzbekistan, indicating the spread of the name across various regions of the Islamic world.
One of the most notable figures with the name Rauf was Rauf Denktash, who served as the first president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from 1983 to 2005. He played a crucial role in the political and diplomatic efforts surrounding the Cyprus dispute.
Another significant individual was Rauf Raif Denktash, a Turkish Cypriot politician and lawyer who served as the Vice President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from 1976 to 1983. He was a prominent figure in the struggle for the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community.
In the realm of literature, Rauf Parfi was an Azerbaijani poet and writer who lived from 1913 to 1995. He made significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijani literature and was recognized for his poetic works that explored themes of love, nature, and social issues.
Rauf Orbay was a Turkish military officer and statesman who lived from 1881 to 1964. He played a crucial role in the Turkish War of Independence and later served as the Prime Minister of Turkey from 1922 to 1923.
In the field of sports, Rauf Inileyn was a Turkish wrestler who competed in the heavyweight division. He won a gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, becoming the first Turkish athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rauf over time
The chart below shows babies named Rauf registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rauf, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rauf by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rauf 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4451 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2969 | 15 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Rauf
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rauf: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rauf in the UK right now?
In 2021, Rauf was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rauf most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 6 babies registered as Rauf in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rauf?
A Muslim baby name derived from Arabic meaning "exalted, sublime".
How many people are called Rauf in the UK?
A total of 39 babies have been registered as Rauf across the 10 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.