NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Safwana

A feminine Arabic name meaning "pure, sincere, or virtuous".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Safwana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Safwana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 5 births.

This profile covers 15 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2012 to 2018. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 15 living people in the UK are called Safwana. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Safwana ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 5 girls were registered as Safwana.
  • About 15 living people in the UK are estimated to have Safwana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5666

2018

Births in 2018

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

5 births

Estimated living

15

2026

Meaning

What does Safwana mean?

The name Safwana is of Arabic origin, stemming from the root word "safa," which means "purity" or "clarity." This name likely originated in the Middle East during the era of the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Safwana can be found in the renowned Arabic literary work "The Book of Songs" by Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani, a 10th-century scholar and writer. This text, which celebrates Arabic poetry and literature, includes references to a female poet named Safwana al-Baghdadiya, who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Safwana. In the 12th century, Safwana bint Idris al-Samarkandiyya was a renowned scholar and poet from Samarkand, known for her contributions to Islamic literature and philosophy. Another significant figure was Safwana bint al-Hashimi, a 13th-century princess from the Hashemite dynasty, who played a influential role in the political affairs of the Abbasid Caliphate.

During the 15th century, Safwana al-Misriyya was a celebrated Egyptian calligrapher and illuminator, renowned for her exquisite artworks adorning manuscripts and religious texts. Her intricate designs and calligraphic styles were highly sought after by patrons and scholars alike.

Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Safwana al-Mawlawi was a prominent Syrian poet and writer, whose works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. Her poetry collections, such as "The Garden of Roses," gained widespread acclaim and influenced subsequent generations of Arab writers.

While the name Safwana may not have been as prevalent as some other Arabic names, it has carried a sense of purity and elegance throughout its historical journey, making it a cherished choice for those seeking a name with deep cultural and literary roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Safwana over time

The chart below shows babies named Safwana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Safwana, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Safwana
01345201220152018

Decades

Safwana by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Safwana 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 #5094 15 4

Related

Names similar to Safwana

FAQ

Safwana: questions and answers

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

In 2018, Safwana was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Safwana most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 5 babies registered as Safwana in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Safwana?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "pure, sincere, or virtuous".

How many people are called Safwana in the UK?

A total of 15 babies have been registered as Safwana across the 4 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.