NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Seif

An Arabic masculine name meaning "sword" or "blade".

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.

Seif is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Seif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 7 births.

This profile covers 83 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 82 living people in the UK are called Seif. 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

  • Seif ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2006, when 7 boys were registered as Seif.
  • About 82 living people in the UK are estimated to have Seif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2006

7 births

Estimated living

82

2026

Meaning

What does Seif mean?

The name Seif originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Arabic word "sayf," which means sword. This name has been in use in the Arab world for centuries and has a strong historical and cultural significance.

In the early days of Islam, the sword was a symbol of power, strength, and courage. Warriors and soldiers who wielded swords with skill and bravery were often given the name Seif as a mark of respect and honor. The name was also associated with the concept of justice, as the sword was seen as a tool to uphold justice and protect the innocent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Seif can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The name appears in the context of a sword being used as a metaphor for the word of God, which is described as a sharp and powerful tool to separate truth from falsehood.

Throughout Islamic history, several prominent figures have borne the name Seif. One of the most notable was Seif al-Din Qalawun, a Mamluk Sultan who ruled Egypt and Syria in the 13th century (1279-1290). He was renowned for his military prowess and his efforts to strengthen the Mamluk Sultanate against the Crusaders and Mongol invaders.

Another famous bearer of the name was Seif al-Din al-Amidi, an influential Islamic scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century (1156-1233). He made significant contributions to the field of logic and was known for his work on the principles of jurisprudence.

In the realm of literature, Seif al-Din al-Hafiz, a 13th-century Persian poet (1201-1283), was renowned for his lyrical poetry and his mastery of the ghazal form. His poems often celebrated love, wine, and the beauty of nature.

During the Crusades, Seif al-Din al-Masudi (1139-1193) was a prominent military commander who led Muslim forces against the Crusaders in the Levant. He played a crucial role in the defense of Aleppo and was renowned for his strategic military tactics.

In more recent times, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi (born in 1972), the second son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, gained notoriety for his involvement in the Libyan civil war and his eventual capture and imprisonment after the fall of his father's regime.

Overall, the name Seif has a rich and diverse history, spanning various fields such as religion, philosophy, literature, and military affairs. Its association with the sword and its symbolism of power, courage, and justice have made it a revered name in the Arab and Islamic world for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Seif over time

The chart below shows babies named Seif registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Seif, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Seif
02457199720102024

Decades

Seif by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Seif 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 #4484 7 2
2010s #4141 28 7
2000s #2925 40 9
1990s #2381 8 2

Related

Names similar to Seif

FAQ

Seif: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Seif was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Seif most popular?

The peak year on record was 2006, with 7 babies registered as Seif in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Seif?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "sword" or "blade".

How many people are called Seif in the UK?

A total of 83 babies have been registered as Seif across the 20 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.