Find out how popular the first name Nafis has been for the last 47 years (from 1976 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nafis by gender

Based on the last 47 years of data, Nafis is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nafis.

The history of the first name Nafis

The name Nafis has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "nafis," which means "precious," "valuable," or "rare." The name is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century AD.

Nafis was a common name among Arabs during the medieval period, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. It was often given to children as a way of expressing the parents' hope that their child would grow up to be a precious and valuable member of society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nafis can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and philosopher Al-Mutanabbi (915-965 AD). In one of his poems, he refers to a person named Nafis, suggesting that the name was in use during that time period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Nafis. One of the most famous was Nafis bin Iwaz Al-Kirmani (1210-1288 AD), a Persian physician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of anatomy and physiology. He is credited with being one of the first scholars to describe the pulmonary circulation system, which was a major breakthrough in medical knowledge at the time.

Another prominent figure with the name Nafis was Nafis Ahmad (1826-1896), an Indian Muslim writer and social reformer. He was a pioneer in promoting women's education and advocating for the abolition of practices such as child marriage and polygamy.

In the realm of literature, Nafis Sadik (1917-2017) was a renowned Pakistani writer and poet who wrote extensively in both Urdu and English. He was awarded the Pride of Performance, one of Pakistan's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to literature.

Nafis Sadullah (1942-2005) was a prominent Bangladeshi novelist and short story writer. His works often explored the themes of social injustice, poverty, and the struggles of the working class. He received numerous literary awards and accolades during his lifetime.

Another notable bearer of the name was Nafis Ullah Khan (1948-2009), a Pakistani nuclear scientist who played a pivotal role in the country's nuclear program. He was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian honor, for his contributions to the field of nuclear physics.

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

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

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