Ife
A girl's name of Yoruba origin with 202 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The largest city in Osun State, Nigeria.
Ife is a girl's baby name of Yoruba origin, from the Yoruba word meaning 'love.' Ile-Ife in Nigeria is considered the cradle of Yoruba civilization — the sacred city from which, according to Yoruba mythology, the world was created.
Ife is a name full of cultural and spiritual depth. Short, powerful, and rooted in one of Africa's richest civilizations, it's a name that carries an entire world within three letters.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Ife's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Ife follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Ife's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Ife has 27+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1970.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 42 | #14361 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 18 | #15965 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 20 | #11511 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 40 | #8482 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 82 | #7395 | — |
The Story of Ife
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1977, Ife is a Gen X staple. Girls named Ife are most likely born between 1970 and 1987.
How rare is Ife?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Ife is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1970, peaked in the 1970s with 82 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Ife by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(27 years, 1970–2018)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10 | #10090 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16823 |
| 2015 | 5 | #17472 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12348 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11627 |
| 2011 | 5 | #17805 |
| 2008 | 5 | #18564 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14129 |
| 2005 | 6 | #15202 |
| 1995 | 7 | #10940 |
| 1992 | 8 | #9809 |
| 1990 | 5 | #13784 |
| 1987 | 6 | #10327 |
| 1985 | 6 | #9743 |
| 1982 | 6 | #9628 |
| 1981 | 14 | #5063 |
| 1980 | 8 | #7650 |
| 1979 | 5 | #10764 |
| 1978 | 8 | #7191 |
| 1977 | 16 | #4291 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ife a boy's or girl's name?
When was Ife most popular?
How popular is the name Ife?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1970–2018