UK boy's name
Sufian
Of Arabic origin, meaning "wise" or "learned scholar".
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.
Sufian is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sufian popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1951, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 18 births.
This profile covers 250 England and Wales registrations across 29 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 248 living people in the UK are called Sufian. 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
- • Sufian ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 18 boys were registered as Sufian.
- • About 248 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sufian as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1951
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2016
18 births
Estimated living
248
2026
Meaning
What does Sufian mean?
The name Sufian has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "safa," which means "pure" or "sincere." It is a name that carries a strong connection to Islamic culture and tradition.
The earliest recorded usage of the name Sufian can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. One of the most famous historical figures to bear this name was Sufian ibn Awf, a companion of the Prophet and one of the early converts to Islam. He played a significant role in the early Muslim community and was known for his wisdom and piety.
Another prominent figure in Islamic history who bore the name Sufian was Sufian al-Thawri, a renowned scholar and jurist who lived in the 8th century CE. He was a prominent figure in the field of Islamic jurisprudence and is considered one of the founders of the Hanafi school of Islamic law.
In the realm of literature, Sufian ibn Uyaynah, an Arab scholar and hadith collector from the 8th century CE, is remembered for his contributions to the preservation and transmission of the prophetic traditions.
Moving forward in history, Sufian ibn Idris, a Moroccan scholar and poet from the 12th century CE, left a lasting impact on the literary and cultural landscape of the region with his poetic works and contributions to Islamic mysticism.
Another notable figure was Sufian ibn Abd al-Malik, an Umayyad prince and military commander who lived in the 8th century CE. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate and was known for his military prowess and leadership skills.
While the name Sufian has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic tradition, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures and regions around the world, albeit with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sufian over time
The chart below shows babies named Sufian 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 Sufian, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sufian by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sufian 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 | #2264 | 48 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2306 | 105 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2078 | 78 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2213 | 19 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Sufian
- 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
Sufian: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sufian in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sufian was ranked #1951 for boys in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Sufian most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 18 babies registered as Sufian in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sufian?
Of Arabic origin, meaning "wise" or "learned scholar".
How many people are called Sufian in the UK?
A total of 250 babies have been registered as Sufian across the 29 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.