NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Yussef

An Arabic masculine name derived from the Hebrew meaning "God will add".

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.

Yussef is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Yussef popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 4 births.

This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2012 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Yussef. 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

  • Yussef ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 4 boys were registered as Yussef.
  • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yussef as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2012

4 births

Estimated living

14

2026

Meaning

What does Yussef mean?

The name Yussef has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is a variation of the name Yusuf, which is derived from the Arabic root word "waw-sad-fa" meaning "to add" or "to increase." This name is associated with the biblical figure Joseph, who is revered in both Judaism and Islam.

In Islamic tradition, Yusuf is mentioned in the Quran as one of the prophets and is highly regarded for his righteousness, wisdom, and interpretation of dreams. The story of Yusuf and his brothers is narrated in the 12th chapter of the Quran, known as Surah Yusuf.

The earliest recorded use of the name Yusuf dates back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is believed that Muhammad named one of his grandsons Yusuf, further solidifying the name's significance in the Islamic faith.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Yussef or its variations. One of the earliest examples is Yussef ibn Yakub, a 10th-century Jewish traveler and historian from Spain, who documented his travels to various parts of Europe and the Middle East.

Another prominent figure was Yussef Salah Al-Din Al-Ayyubi, better known as Saladin (1137-1193 CE), a Kurdish Muslim sultan who led the Muslim resistance against the Crusaders and recaptured Jerusalem in 1187.

In the 19th century, Yussef Kamâl Pasha (1833-1913) was an Ottoman statesman and Grand Vizier who played a significant role in the Tanzimat reforms, aimed at modernizing the Ottoman Empire.

More recently, Yussef El Qaradawi (born 1926) is an influential Islamic scholar and theologian from Egypt, known for his progressive views on various contemporary issues.

Another notable figure is Yussef Idris (1927-1991), an Egyptian writer and playwright who is considered one of the pioneers of modern Arabic literature and contributed significantly to the development of the Arabic short story genre.

While the name Yussef has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic tradition, it has gained popularity in various cultures and regions around the world, reflecting the rich diversity and cultural exchange that has shaped human history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Yussef over time

The chart below shows babies named Yussef registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Yussef, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Yussef
01234201220182024

Decades

Yussef by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yussef 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 #4270 4 1
2010s #4536 10 3

Related

Names similar to Yussef

FAQ

Yussef: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Yussef was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Yussef most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 4 babies registered as Yussef in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Yussef?

An Arabic masculine name derived from the Hebrew meaning "God will add".

How many people are called Yussef in the UK?

A total of 14 babies have been registered as Yussef across the 4 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.