UK girl's name
Sawsan
A feminine Arabic name meaning "lily flower" or "graceful".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sawsan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sawsan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4535, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 4 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2003 to 2020. 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 26 living people in the UK are called Sawsan. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sawsan ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 4 girls were registered as Sawsan.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sawsan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4535
2020
Births in 2020
4
Latest year
Peak year
2006
4 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Sawsan mean?
The name Sawsan is believed to have originated from the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "saws," which means "lily" or "white flower." The name is thought to have been in use since ancient times in the Middle East and North Africa, where Arabic culture and language have a strong presence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sawsan can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry, where it was often used as a symbolic representation of beauty and purity. In some ancient texts, the name is also associated with the concept of renewal and rebirth, likely due to its connection to the blooming of flowers.
Historically, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Sawsan. One of the earliest recorded examples is Sawsan bint Muhalhal al-Ansariya, a 7th-century Arab poet and scholar from Medina. She was known for her contributions to Arabic literature and her expertise in genealogy.
Another prominent figure with the name Sawsan was Sawsan Bashir Qidwa, a Palestinian politician and diplomat who served as the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Social Affairs in the Palestinian National Authority. She was born in 1944 and played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and social justice in the region.
In the field of literature, Sawsan al-Bahar is a renowned Iraqi novelist and short story writer. Born in 1957, she is celebrated for her works that explore themes of identity, displacement, and the complexities of modern Arab society.
In the realm of sports, Sawsan Arshad is a notable Egyptian squash player. Born in 1987, she has represented Egypt in numerous international tournaments and has won several titles, including the World Junior Squash Championships in 2005.
Sawsan Badr is another prominent figure with this name. She is an Egyptian actress and singer who has appeared in numerous films and television shows since the 1970s. Her performances have garnered critical acclaim and have contributed to the cultural landscape of Egypt.
While the name Sawsan has been in use for centuries, its popularity and prevalence have varied across different regions and time periods. However, its connection to Arabic culture and its symbolic meaning of beauty and purity have remained constant, making it a significant and enduring name in the Arabic-speaking world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sawsan over time
The chart below shows babies named Sawsan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sawsan, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sawsan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sawsan 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 | #4535 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5788 | 12 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4695 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Sawsan
- 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
Sawsan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sawsan in the UK right now?
In 2020, Sawsan was ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Sawsan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 4 babies registered as Sawsan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sawsan?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "lily flower" or "graceful".
How many people are called Sawsan in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Sawsan across the 8 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.