UK girl's name
Saphia
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "pure" or "immaculate".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Saphia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saphia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 16 births.
This profile covers 205 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 204 living people in the UK are called Saphia. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Saphia ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 16 girls were registered as Saphia.
- • About 204 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saphia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
16 births
Estimated living
204
2026
Meaning
What does Saphia mean?
The name Saphia is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word "safa," which means "clarity" or "purity." It is a variation of the name Safiya, which has been a popular name in the Arab world for centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Saphia can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. One of the most famous historical figures with this name was Saphia bint Huyayy, who was a prominent Jewish woman in Medina and is mentioned in Islamic texts for her wisdom and knowledge.
In the 11th century, Saphia al-Andalusiyya was a renowned poet and scholar from Andalusia, Spain. She was known for her eloquent poetry and her contributions to the field of Arabic literature.
During the 13th century, Saphia al-Sulamiyya was a Sufi mystic and spiritual leader from Damascus. She was renowned for her teachings on the path of self-knowledge and spiritual enlightenment.
In the 16th century, Saphia Bano was a princess of the Mughal Empire in India. She was known for her beauty, intelligence, and patronage of the arts.
Another notable figure with the name Saphia was Saphia Ismail, a 19th-century Egyptian feminist and activist who fought for women's rights and education.
While the name Saphia has its roots in the Arabic language, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures around the world, particularly in regions with significant Arab or Muslim influence. The name carries a sense of clarity, purity, and wisdom, and has been associated with many remarkable women throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Saphia over time
The chart below shows babies named Saphia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Saphia, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 16 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saphia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saphia 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 | #4740 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #2850 | 92 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2422 | 85 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2230 | 20 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Saphia
- 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
Saphia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Saphia in the UK right now?
In 2021, Saphia was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Saphia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 16 babies registered as Saphia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Saphia?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "pure" or "immaculate".
How many people are called Saphia in the UK?
A total of 205 babies have been registered as Saphia across the 25 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.