UK girl's name
Safire
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "victorious" or "triumphant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Safire is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Safire popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2008 to 2015. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Safire. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Safire ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 3 girls were registered as Safire.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Safire as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Safire mean?
The name Safire is believed to have originated from the Persian name Saffir, which means "sapphire" in the Persian language. This name traces its roots back to ancient Persia, now known as Iran, and the surrounding regions of the Middle East.
The name Safire is derived from the Persian word "safir," which means "azure" or "blue." This word is thought to have been borrowed from the Sanskrit word "shanipriya," which translates to "dear to Saturn." The connection to Saturn stems from the belief that the planet Saturn had a strong association with the deep blue hue of sapphires.
In ancient Persian literature and texts, the name Safire was often used as a metaphor for beauty, purity, and wisdom. The sapphire stone itself was revered for its striking color and was considered a symbol of royalty and nobility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Safire can be found in the works of the famous Persian poet Ferdowsi, who lived between 940-1020 AD. In his epic poem, the Shahnameh, he mentions a character named Safire, although the context and details are not widely known.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Safire. One of the earliest was Safire al-Andalusi (1088-1138), a renowned Arab poet and philosopher from Andalusia, Spain. Another notable figure was Safire Khatun (1233-1286), a Persian princess and poet who was known for her skill in calligraphy and her patronage of the arts.
In more recent times, Safire Nezhad (1905-1982) was an Iranian painter and sculptor who played a significant role in the development of modern Iranian art. Additionally, Safire Hosseini (1942-2022) was an Iranian actress and filmmaker who gained international recognition for her work in both Iranian and European cinema.
A notable figure from the Western world was William Safire (1929-2009), an American author, columnist, and speechwriter best known for his work with President Richard Nixon and his long-running column in The New York Times.
While the name Safire is not as common today as it once was, it continues to hold a rich historical and cultural significance, particularly in the regions of the Middle East and parts of Asia where it has its roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Safire over time
The chart below shows babies named Safire registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Safire, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Safire by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Safire 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5730 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #5545 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Safire
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Safire: questions and answers
How popular is the name Safire in the UK right now?
In 2015, Safire was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Safire most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 3 babies registered as Safire in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Safire?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "victorious" or "triumphant".
How many people are called Safire in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Safire across the 2 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.