Afifa
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 123 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Among U.S. girl's names, Afifa currently holds position #9536. It is known but far from saturated — a name that registers without repeating.
Appearing in records from 1990 to 2024, Afifa has a solid multi-decade track record without being a permanent fixture — it belongs to a specific chapter of American naming.
In the most recent SSA release, Afifa ranks #9536 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Afifa is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin, from the Arabic ʿafīfa, meaning 'chaste, virtuous, pure' — the feminine form of afif. In Islamic ethics, ʿiffa (chastity and moral purity) is a highly valued quality, and Afifa carries the weight of that aspiration. Used across Arab, South Asian, and African Muslim communities, it is a name of quiet moral beauty.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Afifa is rooted in the Arabic tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1990 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Afifa’s rarity (123 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Afifa has 17+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1990.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 39 | #11828 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 46 | #12905 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 27 | #14304 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 11 | #12931 | — |
The Story of Afifa
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2006, Afifa is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Afifa are most likely born between 1996 and 2016.
How rare is Afifa?
Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Afifa — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1990, peaked in the 2010s with 46 births that decade, and continues to thrive.
Afifa by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(17 years, 1990–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | #9536 |
| 2023 | 8 | #11193 |
| 2022 | 5 | #15352 |
| 2021 | 10 | #9575 |
| 2020 | 6 | #13484 |
| 2019 | 10 | #9746 |
| 2017 | 5 | #15972 |
| 2016 | 11 | #9427 |
| 2015 | 7 | #13043 |
| 2012 | 5 | #16939 |
| 2010 | 8 | #12303 |
| 2009 | 6 | #15290 |
| 2006 | 11 | #9914 |
| 2005 | 5 | #16527 |
| 2002 | 5 | #15485 |
| 1999 | 5 | #14442 |
| 1990 | 6 | #11420 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1990–2024