UK girl's name
Saharah
An Arabic name meaning "desert" or "brilliant and luminous".
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.
Saharah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saharah 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 1998, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1998 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Saharah. 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
- • Saharah ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 4 girls were registered as Saharah.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saharah 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
1998
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Saharah mean?
The given name Saharah has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "sahra," which means desert. The name first emerged in the Middle East and North Africa region around the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islamic culture and the spread of the Arabic language.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Saharah can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was often used to describe the vast, arid landscapes and the nomadic lifestyle of the desert-dwelling tribes. The name was also associated with the concepts of strength, resilience, and adaptability, qualities that were highly valued in the harsh desert environment.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Saharah. One of the earliest recorded examples is Saharah bint Amr (c. 650 AD - 724 AD), a renowned poet and scholar from the Umayyad Caliphate. Her poetic works, which often celebrated the beauty and harshness of the desert, have been preserved and studied by scholars for centuries.
Another significant figure is Saharah al-Baghdadi (c. 1050 AD - 1134 AD), a renowned mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. She made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry, and her works were widely studied and referenced by scholars throughout the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 12th century, Saharah al-Andalusi (c. 1160 AD - 1240 AD) was a celebrated physician and philosopher from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). Her writings on medicine and natural philosophy were highly influential and helped to advance the understanding of various medical conditions and treatments during that time.
Moving forward to the 14th century, Saharah al-Qahira (c. 1320 AD - 1390 AD) was a renowned calligrapher and artist from Cairo, Egypt. Her intricate calligraphic works, often adorning mosques and religious texts, were celebrated for their beauty and precision, and her techniques were widely emulated by subsequent generations of calligraphers.
In more recent history, Saharah al-Jazeera (1900 AD - 1983 AD) was a prominent poet and activist from Saudi Arabia. Her poetry, which often addressed themes of social justice, women's rights, and the struggle for independence, played a significant role in shaping the cultural and political landscape of the region during the 20th century.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Saharah throughout history, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and diverse contributions associated with this name across various fields, including literature, science, philosophy, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Saharah over time
The chart below shows babies named Saharah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Saharah, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saharah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saharah 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 | #5758 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3142 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Saharah
- 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
Saharah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Saharah in the UK right now?
In 2015, Saharah was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Saharah most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 4 babies registered as Saharah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Saharah?
An Arabic name meaning "desert" or "brilliant and luminous".
How many people are called Saharah in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Saharah across the 3 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.