Raoof
A masculine Muslim name derived from Arabic meaning "compassionate" or "merciful".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Raoof. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Raoof today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Raoof births was 1977 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Raoof. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Raoof. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1977
5 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1977 SSA rank
#6,626
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Raoof: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Raoof 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 Raoof during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Raoof
The name Raoof has its origins in the Arabic language and can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the early Islamic era. It is derived from the Arabic root word "ra'afa," which means "to be kind" or "to have compassion." The name likely gained popularity among Arab communities during the spread of Islam across the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Raoof can be found in medieval Arabic literature, where it was occasionally used as a descriptive epithet for individuals known for their kindness and compassionate nature. However, there are no known references to the name in major religious texts or historical chronicles from that time period.
The first recorded individual with the name Raoof dates back to the 10th century AD. Raoof al-Isfahani was a renowned Persian poet and scholar who lived in the city of Isfahan, in present-day Iran. He was known for his contributions to the field of Arabic literature and poetry.
In the 12th century, Raoof al-Dawlah was a prominent military commander and statesman who served under the Seljuk Empire. He played a pivotal role in the expansion of the empire's territories and was highly regarded for his strategic acumen and leadership abilities.
Another notable figure with the name Raoof was Raoof Pasha, an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who lived in the 19th century. He served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1828 to 1833 and was known for his efforts to modernize and reform the empire's governance and administrative structures.
In the 20th century, Raoof Hakeem was a prominent Iraqi politician and diplomat. He served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 1935 to 1936 and played a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape during a turbulent period of its history. Hakeem was born in 1886 and passed away in 1939.
Another notable figure with the name Raoof was Raoof Pazhwak, an Afghan diplomat and politician who served as the President of the United Nations General Assembly from 1966 to 1967. He was born in 1919 and played a crucial role in Afghan politics and international affairs during the mid-20th century.
People
Raoof + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Raoof as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Raoof: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Raoof?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Raoof 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Raoof a common name?
We classify Raoof as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Raoof most popular?
The single biggest year for Raoof was 1977, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Raoof is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Raoof in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Raoof a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Raoof in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Raoof still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Raoof in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Raoof can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Raoof?
Find out how many people have the name Raoof on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.