NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Wafi

A masculine Arabic name meaning "faithful" or "loyal".

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.

Wafi is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Wafi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 6 births.

This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2006 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Wafi. 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

  • Wafi ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 6 boys were registered as Wafi.
  • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Wafi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2011

6 births

Estimated living

38

2026

Meaning

What does Wafi mean?

The name Wafi has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "wafa," which means loyalty, faithfulness, or keeping one's promises. The name was likely first used during the early Islamic era in the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Wafi was Wafi al-Baghdadi, a renowned Islamic scholar and historian who lived in the 9th century CE. He was born in Baghdad and wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Another notable figure with the name Wafi was Wafi al-Din al-Taweel, a 13th-century Kurdish philosopher and Sufi mystic. He was born in Ardabil, modern-day Iran, and is known for his contributions to Islamic philosophy and spiritual teachings.

In the 14th century, Wafi al-Din al-Khazraji was a famous Arab mathematician and astronomer from Damascus. He wrote several works on mathematics and astronomy, and his contributions helped advance scientific knowledge in the Islamic world.

During the 16th century, Wafi ibn Yahya was a prominent Ottoman statesman and poet. He served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and was known for his literary works in both Arabic and Persian.

Another notable figure with the name Wafi was Wafi al-Din al-Ghazzi, a 17th-century Syrian scholar and historian. He authored several books on Islamic jurisprudence, hadith (prophetic traditions), and the history of Damascus.

While the name Wafi has its roots in the Arab and Islamic world, it has been adopted and used in various cultures throughout history. Its meaning of loyalty and faithfulness has made it a popular choice for parents seeking a name that reflects these virtues.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Wafi over time

The chart below shows babies named Wafi registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Wafi, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Wafi
02356200620152024

Decades

Wafi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Wafi 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 #4588 14 4
2010s #3918 21 5
2000s #4052 3 1

Related

Names similar to Wafi

FAQ

Wafi: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Wafi was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Wafi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 6 babies registered as Wafi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Wafi?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "faithful" or "loyal".

How many people are called Wafi in the UK?

A total of 38 babies have been registered as Wafi 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.