UK girl's name
Zafirah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "victorious" or "triumphant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Zafirah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zafirah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 8 births.
This profile covers 59 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1999 to 2020. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 59 living people in the UK are called Zafirah. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Zafirah ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 8 girls were registered as Zafirah.
- • About 59 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zafirah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5493
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
8 births
Estimated living
59
2026
Meaning
What does Zafirah mean?
The name Zafirah is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "zafir," which means "victorious" or "successful" in Arabic. It is a feminine name that has been used in various Islamic cultures and regions for centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Zafirah dates back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. It was a period of significant cultural and intellectual advancements in the Arab world, and many names with positive connotations, such as Zafirah, gained popularity.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Zafirah can be found in the works of renowned Arab scholars and poets from that era. Some scholars suggest that the name might have been inspired by verses from the Quran, which often emphasize the concepts of victory and success.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Zafirah. One example is Zafirah bint Umar al-Ghassaniyah (c. 685 - c. 720 CE), a highly respected Arab poet and scholar from the Umayyad Caliphate. Her poetic works were widely celebrated and have been preserved in various anthologies.
Another prominent figure with the name Zafirah was Zafirah al-Jili (1153 - 1225 CE), a renowned Sufi mystic and philosopher from present-day Iran. Her writings on Islamic spirituality and mysticism continue to be studied and revered by scholars and followers of Sufism.
In the 13th century, Zafirah al-Hamdaniyah (c. 1225 - c. 1295 CE) was a prominent Arab mathematician and astronomer from present-day Yemen. She made significant contributions to the fields of trigonometry and celestial mechanics, and her works were widely studied in the Islamic world.
During the Ottoman Empire, Zafirah Sultan (c. 1530 - c. 1580 CE) was a notable figure who served as the Haseki Sultan (chief consort) to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. She played an influential role in the Ottoman court and was known for her patronage of arts and architecture.
Another historical figure with the name Zafirah was Zafirah Begum (1608 - 1692 CE), a Mughal princess and patron of the arts. She commissioned several architectural masterpieces, including the famous Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in Lahore, Pakistan.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zafirah over time
The chart below shows babies named Zafirah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Zafirah, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zafirah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zafirah 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 | #5493 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4871 | 8 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3311 | 41 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2189 | 7 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Zafirah
- Zoe 23,808
- Zara 19,377
- Zainab 9,407
- Zahra 8,438
- Zoya 4,523
- Zuzanna 4,231
- Zaynab 3,722
- Zofia 2,773
- Zaynah 1,472
- Zaina 1,376
- Zoey 1,262
- Zarah 1,167
FAQ
Zafirah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zafirah in the UK right now?
In 2020, Zafirah was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Zafirah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 8 babies registered as Zafirah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zafirah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "victorious" or "triumphant".
How many people are called Zafirah in the UK?
A total of 59 babies have been registered as Zafirah across the 12 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.