NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Safiatou

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "a good woman who observes her prayers".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Safiatou is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Safiatou popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4564, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2009 to 2009. 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.

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

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Safiatou. 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 2010 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Safiatou ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 4 girls were registered as Safiatou.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Safiatou as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4564

2009

Births in 2009

4

Latest year

Peak year

2009

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Safiatou mean?

The name Safiatou originates from the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "safiyah," which means "pure" or "virtuous." The name has its roots in the Middle Eastern region and can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the rise of Islam.

In Islamic history, Safiya bint Huyayy was a renowned figure who was married to the Prophet Muhammad. She was a Jewish woman from the Banu Nadir tribe and embraced Islam after her marriage. Safiya's name has since become a popular choice among Muslim families, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Safiatou can be found in the writings of Ibn Khallikan, a 13th-century Arab scholar and biographer. He mentions a woman named Safiatou who was a renowned poet and scholar during the Abbasid Caliphate.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Safiatou. One such figure was Safiatou Diallo (1900-1975), a prominent Malian writer and activist who played a significant role in the struggle for women's rights and independence in her country.

Another famous Safiatou was Safiatou Ba (1957-2001), a Senegalese novelist and playwright. Her works explored themes of feminism, tradition, and social issues in West Africa. Her novel "Un Chant Écarlate" (A Scarlet Song) received critical acclaim and was translated into several languages.

In the realm of sports, Safiatou Ndiaye (born 1982) is a Senegalese basketball player who has represented her country in multiple international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the FIBA World Cup.

Safiatou Coulibaly (born 1985) is a Malian singer and songwriter known for her powerful vocals and her fusion of traditional Malian music with contemporary styles. She has released several successful albums and has performed on international stages.

Safiatou Diallo (born 1962) is a Guinean politician and activist who has been involved in various human rights and women's empowerment initiatives. She has served as a member of the National Assembly of Guinea and has worked tirelessly to promote gender equality and social justice in her country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Safiatou by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Safiatou 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 #4564 4 1

Related

Names similar to Safiatou

FAQ

Safiatou: questions and answers

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

In 2009, Safiatou was ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Safiatou most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 4 babies registered as Safiatou in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Safiatou?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "a good woman who observes her prayers".

How many people are called Safiatou in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Safiatou 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.