NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Subhan

An Arabic masculine name meaning "he who glorifies" or "one who gives glory".

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.

Subhan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Subhan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #898, with 35 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 103 births.

This profile covers 1,566 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 34% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,598 living people in the UK are called Subhan. 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

  • Subhan ranked #898 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 35 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 103 boys were registered as Subhan.
  • Subhan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #733 in 2017.
  • About 1,598 living people in the UK are estimated to have Subhan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#898

2024

Births in 2024

35

Latest year

Peak year

2011

103 births

Estimated living

1,598

2026

Meaning

What does Subhan mean?

The name Subhan has its origins in the Arabic language, with roots tracing back to ancient times. The literal meaning of the word "Subhan" is "glorified" or "exalted," and it is derived from the Arabic root word "sabaha," which means "to swim" or "to float." This connection to water and fluidity is believed to symbolize the divine essence or the spiritual essence that transcends the physical realm.

Subhan is a name deeply rooted in Islamic tradition and is often associated with praising and glorifying God. It is mentioned in various verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it is used as an expression of reverence and exaltation. One of the most well-known instances is in the phrase "Subhan Allah," which translates to "Glory be to God."

The earliest recorded use of the name Subhan can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the early Islamic era. One of the most famous historical figures bearing this name was Subhan al-Wahid, a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century AD. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry.

Another notable figure with the name Subhan was Subhan Quli Khan, a prominent 16th-century military leader and governor in the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent. He was a trusted commander under the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and played a crucial role in several military campaigns.

In the realm of literature, Subhan Bakhsh was a renowned 18th-century Urdu poet and writer from the Indian subcontinent. He was known for his mastery of the Urdu language and his contributions to the development of Urdu poetry during the Mughal era.

Another historical figure with the name Subhan was Subhan Rai, a prominent Indian freedom fighter who played an active role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule in the early 20th century. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and participated in various non-violent protests and civil disobedience campaigns.

In more recent times, Subhan Arif was a celebrated Pakistani writer and playwright who lived from 1932 to 2008. He was renowned for his works that explored themes of social justice, human rights, and the struggles of the common people. His plays and writings had a significant impact on the literary and cultural landscape of Pakistan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Subhan over time

The chart below shows babies named Subhan 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 Subhan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 35 births in 2024, compared with 103 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Subhan
0265277103199620102024

Decades

Subhan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Subhan 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 #836 192 5
2010s #526 757 10
2000s #531 550 10
1990s #944 67 4

Geography

Where Subhan is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Subhan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Subhan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #733 in 2017.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Subhan in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#733 in 2017

9 years of NRS records, 43 total registered

Related

Names similar to Subhan

FAQ

Subhan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Subhan was ranked #898 for boys in England and Wales, with 35 births registered.

When was Subhan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 103 babies registered as Subhan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Subhan?

An Arabic masculine name meaning "he who glorifies" or "one who gives glory".

How many people are called Subhan in the UK?

A total of 1,566 babies have been registered as Subhan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 43 more in Scotland.

Where is Subhan most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Subhan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #733 in 2017. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.