UK boy's name
Shafi
Arabic name meaning "healer" or "intercessor".
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.
Shafi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shafi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 7 births.
This profile covers 42 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2003 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 42 living people in the UK are called Shafi. 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
- • Shafi ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 7 boys were registered as Shafi.
- • About 42 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shafi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
7 births
Estimated living
42
2026
Meaning
What does Shafi mean?
The name Shafi has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "shafa," which means "to heal" or "to cure." It is a name that is closely associated with the Islamic faith and culture.
Shafi is a shortened form of the Arabic name Shafi'i, which refers to the founder of the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi'i (767-820 CE). He was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who played a pivotal role in establishing the principles of Islamic law (Sharia) and legal methodology (usul al-fiqh).
The earliest recorded use of the name Shafi can be traced back to the 9th century CE, during the time of Imam al-Shafi'i and his followers. It became a popular name among Muslims, particularly those who adhered to the Shafi'i school of thought or lived in regions where this school had a strong presence.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Shafi is Shafi ibn Ali (767-820 CE), who was a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent scholar in his own right. He is known for his contributions to the field of hadith (prophetic traditions) and Islamic jurisprudence.
Another notable individual was Shafi al-Din al-Tilimsani (1186-1266 CE), a Sufi scholar and mystic from the Maghreb region (North Africa). He was renowned for his teachings on Sufism and his influential work, "Sharh al-Hikam al-Ata'iyyah."
In the Indian subcontinent, Shafi Khan (1616-1659 CE) was a prominent military leader and governor during the Mughal Empire. He served under the Mughal emperors Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb and played a crucial role in various military campaigns.
In the field of poetry, Shafi Athar (1864-1903 CE) was a renowned Urdu poet from the Indian subcontinent. He is celebrated for his ghazals (lyric poems) and his contributions to the development of Urdu literature.
Lastly, Shafi Bhuiyan (1920-1987 CE) was a renowned Bangladeshi writer and journalist. He played a significant role in the Language Movement of Bangladesh and is remembered for his literary works and contributions to the country's cultural heritage.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Shafi throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted connection with Islamic culture, literature, and various fields of scholarship.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shafi over time
The chart below shows babies named Shafi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 Shafi, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shafi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shafi 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 | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4518 | 13 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3529 | 26 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Shafi
- 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
Shafi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shafi in the UK right now?
In 2021, Shafi was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shafi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 7 babies registered as Shafi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shafi?
Arabic name meaning "healer" or "intercessor".
How many people are called Shafi in the UK?
A total of 42 babies have been registered as Shafi across the 11 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.