Our Afghan name database contains 2.107 Afghan surnames and 8.414 Afghan first names categorized by gender and frequency. After payment you can download the Afghan name database in CSV, SQL or JSON format. Asia is not very well organised and only have a few open data initiatives. The list of names from countries like Afghanistan have a reasonable quality but are limited. The Afghan names are validated using official governmental databases we received in other countries which contained Afghan names as well. To create the Afghan name database we used 34.869 validated Afghan social media profiles. We have a detailed explanation of our methodology and illustrate our approach with several examples.

Popular Afghan surnames

This table show popular Afghan surnames. In Afghanistan, the surname is passed down from the father to the children. It is a common practice for the father's name to be included as a prefix to the child's name, such as "Mohammed" for a son and "Mohammadi" for a daughter. The surname is also used to identify one's clan or tribe, and can indicate social status and occupation.

Surname Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Khan 1.174 3.4% Pakistani Indian Bangladeshi
Afghan 449 1.3% Pakistani Emirati British
Safi 322 0.9% Pakistani American Turkish
Ahmad 297 0.9% Pakistani Indian Indonesian
Ahmadzai 283 0.8% Pakistani German American
Ahmadi 266 0.8% Iranian American German
Azizi 191 0.5% Iranian German Malaysian
Mohammadi 188 0.5% Iranian American German
Noori 174 0.5% Indian Iranian American
Rahimi 168 0.5% Iranian American German
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 34.869 Afghan social media profiles.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this surname also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Afghan first names

In Afghanistan, parents typically pick a first name for their child based on a combination of religion, family tradition, and cultural influences. Many parents choose a name that has religious significance, such as a name of a prophet or a saint. Family tradition also plays a big role in name selection, as parents often choose a name that has been passed down through generations in their family. Cultural influences also play a part, as certain names may be more popular or traditional in certain regions or ethnic groups in Afghanistan. Ultimately, the choice of a first name is a personal decision that is influenced by a variety of factors.

Popular Afghan male names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Ahmad 381 1.4% Indonesian Pakistani Egyptian
Mohammad 377 1.4% Indian Pakistani Iranian
Abdullah 233 0.9% Turkish Pakistani Saudi Arabian
Ali 231 0.9% Turkish Pakistani American
Khalid 181 0.7% Pakistani Saudi Arabian Egyptian
Mustafa 163 0.6% Turkish Egyptian Dutch
Hamid 136 0.5% Pakistani Iranian Moroccan
Muhammad 124 0.5% Pakistani Indonesian Malaysian
Samiullah 115 0.4% Pakistani Indian Saudi Arabian
Ajmal 106 0.4% Pakistani Indian British
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 34.869 Afghan social media profiles from which 27.058 (78%) is male.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.

Popular Afghan female names

First name Frequency*1 Percentage*1 Alternative countries*2
Afghan 97 1.2% British American Pakistani
Maryam 58 0.7% Pakistani American Egyptian
Noor 55 0.7% Pakistani Egyptian Iraqi
Amanda 48 0.6% American British Brazilian
Ana 47 0.6% Spanish Brazilian American
Zia 43 0.6% Pakistani American British
Jessica 40 0.5% American British Brazilian
Juliana 39 0.5% Brazilian Colombian American
Mariana 38 0.5% Brazilian Mexican Argentinean
Carol 38 0.5% American Brazilian British
  • *1 The Frequency and Percentage are based on 34.869 Afghan social media profiles from which 7.811 (22%) is female.
  • *2 Alternative countries are countries where this first name also is used. They are sorted on popularity.