Arafat first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Arafat has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Arafat

Masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "sacred ground" or "land of guidance".

Popularity of Arafat by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Arafat is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Arafat.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 11 0
2022 10 0
2021 11 0
2020 12 0
2019 8 0
2018 10 0
2017 6 0
2016 12 0
2015 6 0
2014 9 0
2013 12 0
2011 13 0
2010 6 0
2009 7 0
2008 8 0
2005 5 0
1998 7 0
1989 5 0
1975 5 0

The history of the first name Arafat

The name Arafat is of Arabic origin, derived from the word 'arafa' which means 'to know' or 'to recognize'. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, likely in the Arabian Peninsula, during the early days of Islam.

One of the earliest and most significant historical references to the name Arafat can be found in the Islamic tradition. Arafat is the name of a mountain located near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It holds immense religious significance as it is the site where Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon during the Hajj pilgrimage in 632 CE.

The first recorded use of the name Arafat can be traced back to the 7th century CE. One of the earliest individuals with this name was Arafat ibn Salim, a companion of Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century CE.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Arafat. One of the most prominent was Yasser Arafat (1929-2004), a Palestinian leader who served as the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the President of the Palestinian National Authority.

Another notable individual with the name Arafat was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), an Indian scholar, poet, and a senior political leader during India's struggle for independence from British rule.

In the realm of sports, Arafat Sunny (born 1981) is a Bangladeshi cricketer who has played for the national team and has represented various domestic and international teams.

Another individual worth mentioning is Arafat Abdur Rahman (born 1967), a Bangladeshi politician and the current Chairman of the Jatiya Party, a major political party in Bangladesh.

Arafat Nagi (born 1974) is a prominent Afghan singer and musician who has gained popularity for his contributions to Afghan music and culture.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Arafat throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and cultures.

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

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

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"Arafat first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 20, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/arafat-meaning-and-history/.

"Arafat first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/arafat-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 20 June, 2025

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

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