Asfia first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Asfia has been for the last 18 years (from 1999 to 2016) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Asfia

Derived from Arabic, meaning "pure" or "chaste".

Popularity of Asfia by gender

Based on the last 18 years of data, Asfia is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2016, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Asfia.

Year Male Count Female Count
2016 0 7
1999 0 5

The history of the first name Asfia

The name Asfia is believed to have its origins in the Persian language, with roots dating back to ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) and the surrounding regions. The name is derived from the Persian word "asfiya," which means "pure" or "chaste."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Asfia can be found in Persian literature from the 10th century, where it was used to describe a character's virtuous and noble qualities. Over time, the name gained popularity among Persian and Islamic cultures, often given to daughters as a symbol of purity and virtue.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Asfia bint Abi Bakr al-Naysaburi was a renowned female scholar and poet from the city of Nishapur, in present-day Iran. Her works and teachings contributed to the intellectual and literary landscape of the time.

During the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, the name Asfia gained prominence among the nobility and ruling class. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Asfia Begum, the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and his wife Nur Jahan. Asfia Begum was known for her beauty, intelligence, and influence in the royal court.

Another notable figure with the name Asfia was Asfia Khanum, a 19th-century Uzbek princess and poet from the Khanate of Khiva (present-day Uzbekistan). Her poetry and literary works were highly acclaimed and celebrated the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia.

In more recent history, Asfia Sherwani (1909-1967) was an Indian educator, social reformer, and women's rights activist from Uttar Pradesh. She dedicated her life to promoting education and empowerment for women, establishing several schools and educational institutions.

While the name Asfia has its roots in Persian and Islamic cultures, it has gained a global presence and has been embraced by individuals from various backgrounds, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries.

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

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Asfia, 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!

"Asfia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 11, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/asfia-meaning-and-history/.

"Asfia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/asfia-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 11 May, 2025

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

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.