Haneefah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "truth seeker" or "following the true path".
Name Census estimates that about 154 living Americans carry the first name Haneefah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Haneefah today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Haneefah births was 1978 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Haneefah. 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
154
~ 1 in 2,225,678 Americans
Peak year
1978
24 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
2004 SSA rank
#14,808
Tracked since 1976
Popularity
Haneefah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Haneefah from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 65 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Haneefah 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 Haneefah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Haneefahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Haneefah
The name Haneefah is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "hanif," which means "true" or "upright." It is a name associated with the Islamic faith and carries significant cultural and religious significance.
The name Haneefah is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century CE. It is associated with the concept of monotheism and the rejection of idolatry. The term "hanif" is mentioned in the Quran, referring to those who followed the pure monotheistic faith of Prophet Abraham.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Haneefah was Haneefah ibn Qays, a renowned Islamic scholar who lived in the 7th century CE. He was a prominent jurist and founded the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, which is one of the four major Sunni schools of law.
Another notable figure with the name Haneefah was Haneefah bint al-Husayn, a granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad. She lived in the 7th century CE and was known for her piety and knowledge of Islamic teachings.
In the 9th century CE, Haneefah al-Nu'man was a renowned poet and writer from Baghdad. Her literary works, including poetry and prose, were highly regarded during her time and contributed to the cultural and literary landscape of the Abbasid era.
During the 12th century CE, Haneefah al-Khayyat was a respected Islamic scholar and jurist from Khurasan, a historical region in present-day Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia. She was renowned for her expertise in Islamic law and her contributions to the field of jurisprudence.
In the 19th century, Haneefah Haider was a prominent educator and social reformer from India. She played a significant role in promoting education among women and advocating for their rights during the British colonial period.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Haneefah. The name has maintained its cultural and religious significance within the Islamic tradition, representing values of truthfulness, uprightness, and a strong connection to the monotheistic faith.
People
Haneefah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Haneefah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Haneefah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Haneefah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 154 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Haneefah 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 2,225,678 US residents.
Is Haneefah a common name?
We classify Haneefah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 164 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Haneefah most popular?
The single biggest year for Haneefah was 1978, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Haneefah is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Haneefah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Haneefah 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.