Zarif
A masculine name of Persian origin meaning "elegant" or "cultured".
Name Census estimates that about 167 living Americans carry the first name Zarif. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Zarif today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zarif births was 2009 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zarif. 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
167
~ 1 in 2,052,421 Americans
Peak year
2009
14 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,273
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Zarif: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zarif from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 85 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zarif 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 Zarif during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zarifs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Zarif
The name Zarif is of Persian origin, derived from the Arabic word "zarif" meaning "graceful," "elegant," or "refined." It dates back to ancient times and was commonly used in the Middle East region, particularly in Iran and surrounding areas.
Zarif was a popular name among the Persian nobility and aristocracy, often given to those who embodied the qualities of sophistication and refinement. The name's roots can be traced back to ancient Persian literature and poetry, where it was frequently used to describe individuals of exceptional beauty and grace.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zarif can be found in the epic Persian poem "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings) written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In this literary masterpiece, Zarif is mentioned as the name of a character renowned for his elegance and wisdom.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Zarif. One such individual was Zarif al-Din al-Yazdi (1349-1442), a Persian astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.
Another prominent figure was Zarif Khan (1573-1624), a Persian military commander and statesman who served under the Safavid dynasty. He played a crucial role in the expansion and consolidation of the Safavid Empire during the reign of Shah Abbas I.
In the realm of literature, Zarif Beg Sultanli (1784-1838) was a prominent Azerbaijani poet and writer known for his contributions to the development of Azerbaijani literature. His works were celebrated for their elegant style and poetic mastery.
Moving forward in time, Zarif Muzaffar oglu Khalilov (1901-1960) was a renowned Azerbaijani composer and conductor who made significant contributions to the development of Azerbaijani classical music. His compositions were widely acclaimed for their melodic beauty and artistic expression.
Lastly, Javad Zarif (born 1960) is a contemporary Iranian diplomat and politician who has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran since 2013. He has played a pivotal role in shaping Iran's foreign policy and international relations, particularly in the context of the Iranian nuclear deal.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Zarif throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the regions they hailed from.
People
Zarif + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zarif as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zarif: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zarif?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 167 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zarif 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 2,052,421 US residents.
Is Zarif a common name?
We classify Zarif as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 169 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zarif most popular?
The single biggest year for Zarif was 2009, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zarif is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zarif a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zarif 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.
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.