Afrah

A girl's name of Arabic origin with 275 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#11091 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

Afrah peaked during the Gen Alpha era, when 18 babies received this name in a single year (2018). That era was defined by creative, boundary-pushing naming, and Afrah remains in active use today — a name that has outlasted its original moment.

In the most recent SSA release, Afrah ranks #11091 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.

Afrah is a girl's baby name of Arabic origin meaning 'joys,' 'celebrations,' or 'happiness.' It is the plural form of faraḥ (joy, happiness) — making Afrah not just a joyful name but a name that means multiplied joy, many celebrations, an abundance of happiness.

Used across the Arab world and in Somali and East African Muslim communities, Afrah is a name that announces its bearer as a source and recipient of abundant joy.

EtymologyShow more

Phonetically, Afrah 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 Afrah’s linguistic neighborhood.

At a Glance

275

Total births

Since 1994

2018

Peak

18 births

1994

First recorded

31 years of data

Compare Afrah with another name

Popularity Over Time

Afrah climbed 5065 spots in the last 20 years — from #16156 to #11091.

First appeared: 1994Peak: 2018 (18 births)Current: #11091

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Afrah
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	43	#10821	▼
2010s	111	#10245	▲
2000s	97	#10690	▲
1990s	24	#10609	—

The Story of Afrah

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2018, Afrah is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Afrah are most likely born between 2008 and 2024.

How rare is Afrah?

Only about 1 in every 450,000 babies born in 2024 was named Afrah — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1994, peaked in the 2010s with 111 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Afrah by the numbers

Would fill 6 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(28 years, 1994–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Afrah
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	8	#11091	+1 (14.3%)
2023	7	#12207	0
2022	7	#12270	-4 (-36.4%)
2021	11	#8979	+1 (10.0%)
2020	10	#9557	-3 (-23.1%)
2019	13	#8149	-5 (-27.8%)
2018	18	#6527	+1 (5.9%)
2017	17	#6813	+6 (54.5%)
2016	11	#9428	-2 (-15.4%)
2015	13	#8458	+6 (85.7%)
2014	7	#13115	-3 (-30.0%)
2013	10	#10257	+4 (66.7%)
2012	6	#15020	-3 (-33.3%)
2011	9	#11205	+2 (28.6%)
2010	7	#13482	-4 (-36.4%)
2009	11	#9991	+1 (10.0%)
2008	10	#10825	+1 (11.1%)
2007	9	#11650	0
2006	9	#11440	+1 (12.5%)
2005	8	#11857	+3 (60.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Afrah a boy's or girl's name?

Afrah is primarily a girl's name.

When was Afrah most popular?

Afrah reached its peak popularity in 2018 with 18 births that year. It is currently ranked #11091 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Afrah?

Afrah is currently ranked #11091 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 275 babies since 1994.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginArabic names By EndingNames in -h TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1994–2024