Find out how popular the first name Rifa has been for the last 2 years (from 1998 to 1999) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Rifa by gender

Based on the last 2 years of data, Rifa is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1999, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rifa.

The history of the first name Rifa

The name Rifa has its origins in Arabic, where it is derived from the word "rif'ah," which means "elevation" or "exaltation." This name was likely first used in the Middle East and North Africa during the early centuries of Islam.

Rifa is believed to have been a relatively uncommon name in ancient times, with few historical records or mentions in early texts. However, it gained some prominence during the Islamic Golden Age, when scholars and intellectuals flourished in regions like Persia and Andalusia.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Rifa was Rifa ibn Yazid al-Tamimi, a 7th-century Arab general who played a crucial role in the Muslim conquest of Persia. He was known for his military prowess and strategic acumen.

Another notable figure was Rifa al-Tawhidi, a 10th-century philosopher and theologian from Baghdad. He was a prominent figure in the Mu'tazilite school of Islamic thought and wrote extensively on topics such as logic, metaphysics, and ethics.

In the 12th century, Rifa al-Din al-Tabrizi was a renowned Persian physician and philosopher. He made significant contributions to the field of medicine and authored several influential works on topics ranging from astronomy to mathematics.

During the 14th century, Rifa al-Wafayati was a renowned calligrapher and poet from Ottoman Syria. His beautiful calligraphic works adorned many mosques and buildings throughout the region, and his poetry was widely admired.

In more recent history, Rifa'ah al-Tahtawi was an influential Egyptian writer and scholar from the 19th century. He played a pivotal role in the Egyptian Renaissance and was a pioneer in promoting modern educational and cultural reforms in the region.

While the name Rifa may not have been as widespread as some other Arabic names, it has persisted throughout history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including military strategy, philosophy, medicine, calligraphy, and literature.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!