NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Sofian

A masculine given name of Arabic origin meaning "wise" or "learned".

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.

Sofian is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sofian popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 13 births.

This profile covers 187 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 186 living people in the UK are called Sofian. 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

  • Sofian ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2013, when 13 boys were registered as Sofian.
  • About 186 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sofian as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2013

13 births

Estimated living

186

2026

Meaning

What does Sofian mean?

The name Sofian has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating from the Middle East region during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "safi," which means "pure" or "sincere." The name is believed to have gained popularity among Muslim communities, particularly in regions where Arabic was the dominant language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sofian can be traced back to the 7th century AD, when it was mentioned in historical accounts of the Islamic conquest of Persia. During this time, the name was associated with individuals who played significant roles in the spread of Islam and the establishment of the Islamic empire.

In the 8th century, Sofian ibn al-Abrad was a prominent Arab poet and scholar who lived in Basra, modern-day Iraq. He is renowned for his contributions to Arabic literature and his mastery of the Arabic language.

Moving forward to the 11th century, Sofian al-Thawri was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who lived in Kufa, Iraq. He was highly respected for his knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his teachings on hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad).

In the 12th century, Sofian al-Andalusi was a notable Muslim philosopher and scientist from Al-Andalus (present-day Spain). He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy during the golden age of Islamic civilization in Spain.

Another notable figure bearing the name Sofian was Sofian Ibn Bayazid, a military commander who lived in the 14th century during the reign of the Marinid dynasty in Morocco. He played a crucial role in defending the Moroccan territories against foreign invasions and is remembered for his strategic military tactics.

Throughout history, the name Sofian has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, poets, philosophers, and military leaders, reflecting the diverse cultural and intellectual heritage associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sofian over time

The chart below shows babies named Sofian registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Sofian, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sofian
0371013199620102024

Decades

Sofian by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sofian 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 #3715 19 4
2010s #2819 70 9
2000s #2057 86 10
1990s #2452 12 3

Related

Names similar to Sofian

FAQ

Sofian: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Sofian was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Sofian most popular?

The peak year on record was 2013, with 13 babies registered as Sofian in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sofian?

A masculine given name of Arabic origin meaning "wise" or "learned".

How many people are called Sofian in the UK?

A total of 187 babies have been registered as Sofian across the 26 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.