UK girl's name
Sahar
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "dawn" or "early morning".
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.
Sahar is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sahar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1819, with 16 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 51 births.
This profile covers 784 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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.
The latest count is about 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 786 living people in the UK are called Sahar. 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
- • Sahar ranked #1819 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 16 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 51 girls were registered as Sahar.
- • Sahar ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #722 in 2006.
- • About 786 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sahar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1819
2024
Births in 2024
16
Latest year
Peak year
2005
51 births
Estimated living
786
2026
Meaning
What does Sahar mean?
The name Sahar has its origins rooted in Arabic and Persian cultures, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "sahara," which means "dawn" or "early morning." This name is associated with the beauty and freshness of the morning, symbolizing new beginnings and hope.
In Persian literature and poetry, the name Sahar is often used as a metaphor for the first rays of sunlight that break through the darkness, signifying the end of night and the start of a new day. It is a name that carries a sense of radiance and brightness, reflecting the warmth and beauty of the rising sun.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Sahar can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet, Rumi, who lived in the 13th century. Rumi's poetry frequently used the name Sahar as a symbolic representation of divine love and spiritual enlightenment.
Throughout history, there have been notable individuals who bore the name Sahar. One of the most famous was Sahar Khalid, an influential Arab feminist and activist from Palestine, who lived from 1941 to 1999. She was a prominent figure in the women's rights movement and played a crucial role in advocating for gender equality and social justice in the Middle East.
Another notable figure was Sahar Mustaffa, an Egyptian actress and singer, born in 1938. She was renowned for her captivating performances and her contributions to the Egyptian film industry during the 1960s and 1970s.
In the realm of literature, Sahar Delijani is a contemporary Iranian author and academic. Born in 1983, she is best known for her critically acclaimed novel "Children of the Jacaranda Tree," which explores the complexities of life in post-revolutionary Iran.
Sahar Khalifeh, a Palestinian novelist and playwright, born in 1941, is another influential figure who carried this name. Her works often addressed issues of gender, identity, and the struggles of Palestinian women, earning her widespread recognition and respect in the literary world.
Lastly, Sahar Aman was a prominent Afghan journalist and women's rights activist, born in 1981. Tragically, she was assassinated in 2012 for her outspoken advocacy for women's rights and freedom of expression in Afghanistan, becoming a symbol of courage and resilience in the face of oppression.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sahar over time
The chart below shows babies named Sahar registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Sahar, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 16 births in 2024, compared with 51 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sahar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sahar 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 | #1751 | 82 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1540 | 254 | 10 |
| 2000s | #809 | 367 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1007 | 81 | 4 |
Geography
Where Sahar is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sahar. 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.
Sahar ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #722 in 2006.
Across the UK
Sahar in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#722 in 2006
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Sahar
-
Sahar Aslam
cricketer
Irish cricketer
1982-
Related
Names similar to Sahar
- 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
Sahar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sahar in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sahar was ranked #1819 for girls in England and Wales, with 16 births registered.
When was Sahar most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 51 babies registered as Sahar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sahar?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "dawn" or "early morning".
How many people are called Sahar in the UK?
A total of 784 babies have been registered as Sahar across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Sahar most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Sahar ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #722 in 2006. 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.