Find out how popular the first name Afifa has been for the last 34 years (from 1990 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Afifa by gender

Based on the last 34 years of data, Afifa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Afifa.

The history of the first name Afifa

The name Afifa is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "afaf" which means chastity, modesty, and purity. It first emerged during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century AD, in the Arabian Peninsula.

This name holds significant importance in Islamic culture and history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Afifa can be found in the famous collection of hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad), where it is mentioned as the name of a woman who lived during the Prophet's time.

In the 9th century, Afifa bint Abdallah al-Tilimsani was a renowned Arabic poet and scholar from modern-day Algeria. She was praised for her eloquence and contributions to Arabic literature.

During the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from 750 to 1258 AD, the name Afifa gained popularity among the aristocratic and scholarly classes. One notable figure was Afifa al-Baghdadiyya, a respected scholar and poet who lived in Baghdad in the 10th century.

In the 12th century, Afifa al-Muhtadiyya was a prominent Sufi mystic and writer from Andalusia, modern-day Spain. Her writings and teachings on Islamic spirituality and philosophy were highly influential during her time.

Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Afifa Khanam was a renowned Indian poet and writer who composed works in Urdu and Persian. She was born in 1835 and was a prominent figure in the literary circles of the Mughal Empire.

Throughout its long history, the name Afifa has been associated with virtues of modesty, purity, and moral integrity, reflecting its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Afifa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Afifa, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!