Anifa first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Anifa has been for the last 3 years (from 2018 to 2020) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Anifa

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "one with a noble bearing".

Popularity of Anifa by gender

Based on the last 3 years of data, Anifa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2020, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Anifa.

Year Male Count Female Count
2020 0 5
2018 0 5

The history of the first name Anifa

The name Anifa is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, where it is derived from the word "anf," which means "nose" or "nasal." This name is thought to have first emerged during the medieval period in the regions of the Middle East and North Africa, where Arabic was the predominant language.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anifa can be found in a 9th-century Persian manuscript, which mentions a woman named Anifa who was a renowned poet and scholar. This suggests that the name was already in use during the Islamic Golden Age, a period of significant cultural and intellectual achievements in the region.

In the 11th century, a notable figure named Anifa al-Andalusiyya was a renowned physician and philosopher from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain and Portugal). Her contributions to the field of medicine and her writings on various philosophical topics earned her widespread recognition during her lifetime.

Another historical figure bearing the name Anifa was a 13th-century Sufi mystic from Central Asia, known as Anifa al-Samarkandi. She is celebrated for her spiritual teachings and her influence on the Sufi tradition in the region.

During the 15th century, there was a prominent Persian calligrapher named Anifa al-Shirazi, whose intricate and beautiful calligraphic works were highly revered and are still preserved in various museums and collections today.

In the 19th century, Anifa al-Baghdadi was a renowned Iraqi poet and author, whose works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. Her poetry was widely acclaimed and continues to be studied and appreciated by scholars and literary enthusiasts.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Anifa. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Arabic language and the medieval period, its usage has transcended cultural and geographic boundaries, with individuals from various regions and backgrounds adopting this beautiful and unique name.

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 Anifa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Anifa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 23, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/anifa-meaning-and-history/.

"Anifa first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/anifa-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 23 June, 2025

Anifa first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/anifa-meaning-and-history/.

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