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

Popularity of Hanifah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hanifah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Hanifah.

The history of the first name Hanifah

The name Hanifah is an Arabic feminine name that originated in the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "hanif," which means "one who follows the straight path" or "one who is inclined towards the true faith." The name is closely associated with the Islamic faith and has been in use since the early days of Islam.

The name Hanifah is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it is used to describe the Prophet Abraham as a "hanif," meaning he was a monotheist and followed the true religion of worshiping one God. This association with the Prophet Abraham has given the name a deep spiritual significance in Islamic culture.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Hanifah was in the 7th century CE, when it was given to Hanifah bint Al-Ahnaf, a woman from the Banu Tamim tribe in Arabia. She was known for her intelligence and wisdom, and her name became a symbol of virtue and piety.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Hanifah. One of the most famous was Hanifah ibn Al-Mughirah, a 7th-century Islamic scholar and jurist from Kufa, Iraq. He was one of the most prominent figures in the early development of Islamic jurisprudence and is considered the founder of the Hanafi school of Islamic law.

Another prominent figure with the name Hanifah was Hanifah Al-Malikah, an 11th-century queen of the Berber Zirid dynasty in North Africa. She ruled from 1062 to 1088 CE and was known for her patronage of the arts and sciences, as well as her military prowess in defending her kingdom against invaders.

In the 12th century, Hanifah Al-Muqri was a renowned scholar of the Quran and Arabic grammar. She was born in Cordoba, Spain, and her teachings and writings on the Quran were highly influential in the Islamic world.

In the 19th century, Hanifah Al-Khalidiyah was a Sufi mystic and poet from Syria. She was known for her devotional poetry and her teachings on the spiritual path of Sufism, which gained her a large following in the region.

The name Hanifah has remained popular among Muslim communities worldwide, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where it is seen as a symbol of faith, devotion, and adherence to the true path of Islam.

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

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

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