UK boy's name
Shareef
An Arabic name meaning noble, honorable, righteous.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Shareef is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Shareef popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4747, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 33 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1999 to 2015. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 33 living people in the UK are called Shareef. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Shareef ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 boys were registered as Shareef.
- • About 33 living people in the UK are estimated to have Shareef as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4747
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
33
2026
Meaning
What does Shareef mean?
The given name Shareef originates from the Arabic language and culture, with its roots tracing back to the 7th century AD during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. The word "Shareef" itself is derived from the Arabic term "Sharif," which means noble, distinguished, or honorable.
In the early days of Islam, the title "Sharif" was bestowed upon those who were direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Prophet's family members were considered the most noble and respected individuals in the Islamic community, and the name Shareef became a symbol of this exalted status.
The name Shareef can be found in various historical texts and Islamic scriptures, including the Quran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). One notable early example is Shareef Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, who played a crucial role in the early spread of Islam and is revered by both Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Throughout history, several prominent figures bore the name Shareef, including Shareef Idrissi (1782-1837), a Moroccan explorer and diplomat who traveled extensively in Africa and wrote about his journeys. Shareef Ali Khan (1822-1881) was a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
In the realm of literature, Shareef Qamar (1924-1983) was a celebrated Urdu poet and writer from Pakistan, known for his profound and thought-provoking poetry. Shareef Husayn (1858-1932), an Egyptian scholar and writer, played a pivotal role in the Arab Renaissance (Nahda) movement, advocating for cultural and literary revitalization in the Arab world.
Another notable figure was Shareef Abdur Rahman (1891-1959), a prominent Indian Muslim leader and statesman who served as the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Pakistan after the country's independence in 1947.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the honorable name Shareef, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural and religious significance within the Arabic and Islamic traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Shareef over time
The chart below shows babies named Shareef registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Shareef, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Shareef by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Shareef 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4270 | 18 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4071 | 12 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Shareef
- 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
Shareef: questions and answers
How popular is the name Shareef in the UK right now?
In 2015, Shareef was ranked #4747 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Shareef most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Shareef in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Shareef?
An Arabic name meaning noble, honorable, righteous.
How many people are called Shareef in the UK?
A total of 33 babies have been registered as Shareef across the 10 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.