Afra
A girl's name of Arabic origin with 203 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Afra peaked during the Gen Z era, when 14 babies received this name in a single year (2006). That era was defined by globally influenced, diversity-driven naming, and Afra remains in active use today — a name that has outlasted its original moment.
In the most recent SSA release, Afra ranks #7572 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Afra is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin, meaning 'whitish' or 'dust-colored' — from the Arabic word for a pale, earth-toned color. In Islamic history, Afra was a female companion of the Prophet Muhammad, giving the name religious and historical significance. It also appears in Hebrew as a variant of Ophrah, meaning 'young deer.'
Soft-sounding and genuinely ancient, Afra is a name worn by women across more than fourteen centuries of Arabic and Islamic history — its simplicity is the mark of a name that has needed no embellishment.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Afra belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Arabic naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Arabic names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Afra’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Afra climbed 4073 spots in the last 20 years — from #11645 to #7572.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 52 | #9693 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 46 | #13944 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 68 | #11662 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 32 | #11729 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 5 | #10220 | — |
The Story of Afra
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2006, Afra is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Afra are most likely born between 1996 and 2016.
How rare is Afra?
Only about 1 in every 257,143 babies born in 2024 was named Afra — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1979, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 68 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Afra by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(26 years, 1979–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | #7572 |
| 2023 | 13 | #8061 |
| 2022 | 7 | #12269 |
| 2021 | 9 | #10302 |
| 2020 | 9 | #10261 |
| 2018 | 6 | #13836 |
| 2017 | 5 | #15973 |
| 2016 | 8 | #11804 |
| 2014 | 6 | #14616 |
| 2013 | 5 | #16616 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11283 |
| 2010 | 7 | #13481 |
| 2009 | 10 | #10699 |
| 2008 | 7 | #13867 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8250 |
| 2005 | 6 | #14540 |
| 2004 | 8 | #11645 |
| 2003 | 8 | #11342 |
| 2002 | 8 | #11127 |
| 2000 | 7 | #11827 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Afra most popular?
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1979–2024