UK girl's name
Sharifah
A feminine Muslim name meaning "noble lady" or "princess".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sharifah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sharifah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 5 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1998 to 2022. 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 35 living people in the UK are called Sharifah. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sharifah ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 girls were registered as Sharifah.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sharifah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
5 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Sharifah mean?
The name Sharifah originates from the Arabic language and culture, and it has been in use since ancient times. The name is derived from the Arabic word "sharif," which means "noble" or "illustrious." It is a feminine form of the name, often given to girls born into noble or respected families.
In Islamic tradition, the name Sharifah is associated with the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, who are known as the Sharifs or Sayyids. These individuals were considered to have a special status and were held in high regard in the Muslim community.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sharifah can be found in the historical records of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from the 8th to the 13th century. During this period, several princesses and noblewomen bore the name Sharifah, reflecting their noble lineage and status.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Sharifah. One of the most famous was Sharifah Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, who lived from 605 to 632 CE. She was revered for her piety, wisdom, and devotion to her father's teachings.
Another prominent figure was Sharifah Zainab, a 15th-century Sufi saint and poet from Iran. She was renowned for her spiritual teachings and her beautiful poetry, which often explored themes of love, devotion, and the divine.
In the 19th century, Sharifah Alawiyah was a prominent female scholar and writer from the Hadhramaut region of Yemen. She wrote extensively on Islamic jurisprudence and was highly respected for her knowledge and wisdom.
Sharifah Zubaydah, who lived in the 9th century, was a renowned figure in the Abbasid court. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and influence, and she played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the caliphate.
Sharifah Halimah Yacob, who was born in 1914 and passed away in 2003, was a prominent political figure in Singapore. She was the first female president of the Muslim Advisory Board and played a crucial role in advocating for the rights and welfare of the Muslim community in the country.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Sharifah, a name that reflects a rich cultural heritage and a deep connection to the Islamic tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sharifah over time
The chart below shows babies named Sharifah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sharifah, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sharifah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sharifah 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 | #5581 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4736 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4179 | 19 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3874 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Sharifah
- 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
Sharifah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sharifah in the UK right now?
In 2022, Sharifah was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sharifah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Sharifah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sharifah?
A feminine Muslim name meaning "noble lady" or "princess".
How many people are called Sharifah in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Sharifah 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.