NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Zafar

A name of Arabic origin meaning "victory" or "success".

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.

Zafar is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zafar 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 2001, with 6 births.

This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 11 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Zafar. 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

  • Zafar ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2001, when 6 boys were registered as Zafar.
  • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zafar 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

2001

6 births

Estimated living

44

2026

Meaning

What does Zafar mean?

The name Zafar is derived from the Arabic word 'zafar' which means 'victory' or 'triumph'. It has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, and is believed to have been in use since ancient times.

The earliest known reference to the name Zafar can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it is mentioned as one of the names of God. This suggests that the name has been in use for over 1400 years.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zafar was Zafar Khan, a Mughal nobleman who lived in the 16th century. He was the governor of Gujarat and played a pivotal role in the Mughal conquest of the region.

Another notable figure was Zafar Ali Khan, a 19th century ruler of the princely state of Rampur in British India. He is remembered for his patronage of the arts and literature, and for modernizing his state.

In the modern era, one of the most famous individuals with the name Zafar was Mohammad Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor of India. He ascended to the throne in 1837 and was a prominent figure during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company.

Beyond the Indian subcontinent, one of the most well-known individuals with the name Zafar was Zafar Bangash, a Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the 1970s and 1980s. He is considered one of the best all-rounders in the history of Pakistani cricket.

Another notable figure was Zafar Ansari, an English cricketer of Pakistani descent who played for the England national team in the early 2010s. He was born in 1992 and is known for his all-round abilities as a left-arm spinner and a right-handed batsman.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Zafar over time

The chart below shows babies named Zafar 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 Zafar, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Zafar
02356199620102024

Decades

Zafar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zafar 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 #4966 9 3
2010s #3932 12 3
2000s #2925 19 4
1990s #2357 4 1

Related

Names similar to Zafar

FAQ

Zafar: questions and answers

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

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

When was Zafar most popular?

The peak year on record was 2001, with 6 babies registered as Zafar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Zafar?

A name of Arabic origin meaning "victory" or "success".

How many people are called Zafar in the UK?

A total of 44 babies have been registered as Zafar across the 11 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.