UK girl's name
Sunna
A feminine Arabic name meaning "practice" or "way of life".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2000. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sunna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sunna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2000 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3247, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 5 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1997 to 2000. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Sunna. 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 2001 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sunna ranked #3247 for girls in England and Wales in 2000, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 5 girls were registered as Sunna.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sunna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3247
2000
Births in 2000
4
Latest year
Peak year
1998
5 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Sunna mean?
The name Sunna has its origins in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, believed to have emerged around the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "sunnah," which refers to the traditions, practices, and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
The term "sunnah" holds great significance in Islamic theology, as it serves as a primary source of guidance and interpretation alongside the Qur'an. It encompasses the Prophet's sayings, actions, and tacit approvals, which were meticulously recorded and transmitted by his companions.
One of the earliest and most prominent historical figures to bear the name Sunna was Sunna al-Nisa'i, a renowned female scholar and hadith narrator who lived in the 9th century CE. She was renowned for her extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of hadith (the recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad).
Another notable figure was Sunna ibn Ibrahim al-Hafiz, a distinguished Islamic scholar and historian who lived in the 9th century CE. He authored several works on Islamic history and jurisprudence, contributing significantly to the preservation and dissemination of knowledge during that era.
In the 10th century CE, Sunna ibn Abi Nasr al-Qaysi was a prominent Arabic poet and literary figure. His poetic works were widely acclaimed for their eloquence and mastery of language, earning him a place among the literary giants of his time.
During the 11th century CE, Sunna ibn Yahya al-Razi was a renowned philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and mathematics, and his works were widely studied and referenced by scholars across the Islamic world.
In the 13th century CE, Sunna bint Badr al-Din al-Maqdisi was a celebrated female scholar and hadith narrator. She was highly regarded for her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the preservation and transmission of hadith literature.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Sunna, reflecting its deep roots in Islamic culture and the reverence it holds within the tradition. The name continues to be associated with religious devotion, scholarship, and the preservation of Islamic teachings and practices.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sunna over time
The chart below shows babies named Sunna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2000. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sunna, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2000, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sunna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sunna 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3247 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2938 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Sunna
- 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
Sunna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sunna in the UK right now?
In 2000, Sunna was ranked #3247 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Sunna most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 5 babies registered as Sunna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sunna?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "practice" or "way of life".
How many people are called Sunna in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Sunna across the 3 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.