Farha
An Arabic name meaning "joy" or "delight".
Name Census estimates that about 155 living Americans carry the first name Farha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Farha today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Farha births was 2017 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Farha. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
155
~ 1 in 2,211,318 Americans
Peak year
2017
10 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,976
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Farha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Farha from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 51 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Farha remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Farha by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Farha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Farha
The name Farha has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have been derived from the word "farah," which means joy or happiness. This name dates back to ancient times and was commonly used in the Middle Eastern region.
In Arabic culture, names were often chosen for their symbolic meanings or to reflect the parents' hopes and aspirations for their child. The name Farha was likely bestowed upon children with the intention of wishing them a life filled with joy and contentment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Farha can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and writers from the 7th and 8th centuries CE. These literary works often featured characters named Farha, suggesting the name's popularity during that era.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Farha. One such individual was Farha al-Mahdiyya (c. 1130-1200), a prominent female poet and scholar from medieval Baghdad. She was renowned for her literary contributions and her expertise in various fields, including poetry, philosophy, and Islamic theology.
Another historical figure with the name Farha was Farha Bint Ali al-Ansari (1211-1285), a respected Islamic scholar and jurist from Medina. She was known for her extensive knowledge of Islamic law and her contributions to the interpretation of religious texts.
In the 16th century, Farha Begum (1530-1605) was a powerful and influential figure in the Mughal Empire. She was the wife of Emperor Humayun and played a crucial role in the political affairs of the empire, serving as a regent during her son Akbar's reign.
During the 19th century, Farha Khatun (1817-1891) was a prominent Afghan poet and writer. Her works, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, were widely celebrated and influenced the literary culture of her time.
Another notable figure with the name Farha was Farha Zubair (1920-2008), a Pakistani activist and philanthropist. She dedicated her life to promoting women's rights, education, and social welfare, establishing several organizations and initiatives to support these causes.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Farha, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and significance within various regions and time periods.
People
Farha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Farha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Farha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Farha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 155 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Farha going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,211,318 US residents.
Is Farha a common name?
We classify Farha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 158 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Farha most popular?
The single biggest year for Farha was 2017, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Farha is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Farha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Farha in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.