UK boy's name
Shafay
A masculine name of Persian origin meaning "one who brings solace or healing".
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.
Shafay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shafay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2011 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Shafay. 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
- • Shafay ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 boys were registered as Shafay.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shafay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2011
4 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Shafay mean?
The given name Shafay has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word 'shafaa', which means healing or cure. The name is believed to have emerged around the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic faith and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shafay can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and scholar, Al-Mutanabbi, who lived from 915 to 965 CE. In one of his poems, he mentions a person named Shafay, suggesting the name was in use during that time period.
During the medieval era, the name Shafay gained popularity among Islamic scholars and physicians, as it symbolized the pursuit of knowledge and the art of healing. One notable figure was Shafay al-Baghdadi, a renowned physician and philosopher who lived in Baghdad during the 11th century CE. His contributions to the field of medicine and his writings on philosophy and ethics were widely acclaimed in the Islamic world.
In the 13th century, a prominent Sufi mystic and poet named Shafay al-Din al-Hawi gained recognition for his spiritual teachings and poetic works. He was born in Persia (modern-day Iran) in 1201 CE and is remembered for his profound insights into the mystical aspects of Islam.
Another significant figure who bore the name Shafay was Shafay ibn Idris, a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in the 8th century CE. He was the founder of the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, one of the four major Sunni schools of thought.
In more recent history, one of the most notable individuals with the name Shafay was Shafay Muneer, an Indian writer and journalist who lived from 1933 to 2003. He was known for his contributions to Urdu literature and his work as a foreign correspondent for various newspapers and magazines.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Shafay throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted connections to the Arabic language, Islamic culture, and the pursuit of knowledge and healing.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shafay over time
The chart below shows babies named Shafay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 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 Shafay, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shafay by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shafay 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 | #4530 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4290 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Shafay
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Shafay: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shafay in the UK right now?
In 2024, Shafay was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Shafay most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Shafay in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shafay?
A masculine name of Persian origin meaning "one who brings solace or healing".
How many people are called Shafay in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Shafay across the 4 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.