UK boy's name
Zafir
A masculine Arabic name meaning "victorious" or "triumphant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zafir is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Zafir popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 7 births.
This profile covers 51 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2000 to 2023. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 51 living people in the UK are called Zafir. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zafir ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 7 boys were registered as Zafir.
- • About 51 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zafir as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
7 births
Estimated living
51
2026
Meaning
What does Zafir mean?
The name Zafir has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "zafir," which means "victorious" or "triumphant." The name dates back to ancient times and was likely used by Arab tribes and communities in the Middle East and North Africa regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zafir can be found in the historical records of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled a vast empire stretching from Persia to North Africa between the 8th and 13th centuries. During this time, the name was associated with warriors and military leaders who achieved notable victories on the battlefield.
In Islamic history, the name Zafir is mentioned in some religious texts and historical accounts, often in reference to individuals who played significant roles in the spread and defense of Islam. However, the name does not appear to have any direct connection to specific figures or events in the Quran or other holy scriptures.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zafir. One example is Zafir al-Hazili, a 10th-century Arab poet and writer who was renowned for his contributions to the literary arts during the Abbasid era. Another famous bearer of the name was Zafir al-Andalusi, a 12th-century Islamic scholar and philosopher from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain).
In the 13th century, Zafir al-Din al-Irbili was a prominent Kurdish historian and author who wrote extensively about the Ayyubid dynasty and the Mongol invasions of the Middle East. A few centuries later, Zafir Khan was a notable military commander and governor who served under the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.
More recently, Zafir Ansari was an Indian independence activist and politician from the early 20th century. He played a significant role in the Indian National Congress and the struggle for India's independence from British rule.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Zafir, each leaving their mark in various fields such as literature, scholarship, military leadership, and politics. The name continues to be used in several cultures and regions, carrying with it a sense of triumph and victory.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zafir over time
The chart below shows babies named Zafir registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zafir, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zafir by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zafir 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 | #4420 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4183 | 16 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3160 | 28 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Zafir
- Zachary 29,362
- Zak 9,988
- Zain 7,620
- Zac 7,272
- Zack 7,101
- Zakariya 5,447
- Zach 4,754
- Zayn 4,326
- Zachariah 3,234
- Zion 3,141
- Zane 2,818
- Zayd 2,609
FAQ
Zafir: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zafir in the UK right now?
In 2023, Zafir was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Zafir most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 7 babies registered as Zafir in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zafir?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "victorious" or "triumphant".
How many people are called Zafir in the UK?
A total of 51 babies have been registered as Zafir across the 13 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.