Elif is a distinctive choice, ranked #686 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Elif in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#686
About the Name Elif
Elif is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 31 places over five years. Its high point was #517 in 2015, and it now sits at #686. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Elif is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Elif
Unlikely. With around 55 UK babies named Elif per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Elif in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Elif has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 31 places in the last five years. Its peak was #517 in 2015. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Elif is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Elif include: Elif Demirezer — Elif Demirezer, also known by her stage name ELIF, is a German pop musician of Turkish descent.; Elif Bayram — Elif Bayram is a Turkish female basketball player.; Elif Altınkaynak — Elif Altınkaynak Çahlıyan is a Turkish archer..
Elif does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Elifs in the wild.
55
UK babies named Elif (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 31 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Elif
Likely around 1 other Elif in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Elif
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Elif Altınkaynak Çahlıyan is a Turkish archer. She competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where she placed 4th in the women's individual contest, and fourth in the team contest with the Turkish team.
Nedime Elif Ağca Yarar, also known as Nedime Elif Ağca Öner, is a retired national level Turkish volleyball player who last played for Fenerbahçe. She is 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) tall and plays as setter.
Elif Deniz is a Turkish women's football midfielder who last played in the First League for Trabzon İdmanocağı with jersey number 11. She is a member of the Turkish national team since 2010.
Elif Eralp is a German politician serving as a member of the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin since 2021. She has served as deputy group leader of Die Linke since 2024, and as deputy state chair of the party since 2025.
Elif Nur Turhan is a Turkish professional boxer. She has held the IBF female lightweight title since December 2025 and the WBA interim female super-featherweight title since August 2025.