Find out how popular the first name Arif has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Arif by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Arif is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 14 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Arif.

The history of the first name Arif

The name Arif is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word 'arafa', which means 'to know' or 'to recognize'. It is a masculine name that has been in use since ancient times in the Arab world and some parts of the Middle East.

The name Arif has a strong connection to Islamic culture and history. In Arabic literature, the word 'arif' is often used to refer to a person who has deep spiritual knowledge or a mystic. The name is mentioned in several Islamic texts and scriptures, including the Quran and the Hadith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arif can be found in the writings of the famous Sufi poet and philosopher, Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207-1273 AD). Rumi's works are filled with references to the concept of 'arif', and he often used it to describe those who had attained a higher level of spiritual understanding.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Arif. One of the most renowned is Arif Qazvini (1263-1325 AD), a Persian philosopher and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and wrote several influential works on the subject.

Another prominent figure with the name Arif is Arif Wiqar Ali (1923-1997), a Pakistani writer and poet who is considered one of the most influential figures in Urdu literature. His works, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and social issues, earned him numerous awards and accolades.

In the field of music, Arif Mardin (1932-2006) was a Turkish-American record producer and arranger who worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, and Norah Jones. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Another notable figure with the name Arif is Arif Dirlik (1940-2021), a Turkish-American historian and sociologist who made significant contributions to the field of critical theory and postcolonial studies.

Finally, Arif Husain (1938-2021) was an Indian-American mathematician and computer scientist who made groundbreaking contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. He is best known for his work on the development of the first chess-playing computer program, which was a major milestone in the field of AI.

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

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

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