UK girl's name
Afifah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "chaste" or "virtuous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Afifah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Afifah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4535, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 10 births.
This profile covers 105 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 104 living people in the UK are called Afifah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Afifah ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 10 girls were registered as Afifah.
- • About 104 living people in the UK are estimated to have Afifah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4535
2020
Births in 2020
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
10 births
Estimated living
104
2026
Meaning
What does Afifah mean?
The name Afifah is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word 'afaf,' which means chastity, modesty, or virtue. It is a popular name in the Islamic world and has been used for centuries.
In Islamic tradition, the name Afifah is believed to be derived from the name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad, Aisha. She was known for her piety, intelligence, and wisdom, and her name was often used as a model for virtuous women.
The earliest recorded use of the name Afifah can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic era. It was a common name among Arab women during this time, as it reflected the values of modesty and virtue that were highly esteemed in Islamic culture.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Afifah was Afifah bint Abd al-Muttalib, a relative of the Prophet Muhammad who lived in the 6th century CE. She was known for her charitable works and her devotion to her faith.
Another notable figure with the name Afifah was Afifah al-Qibtiyyah, a 9th century Egyptian mathematician and astronomer. She made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and was one of the earliest female scholars in the Islamic world.
In the 12th century, Afifah bint Abdullah al-Andalusi was a renowned poet and scholar from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). Her poetry was highly regarded, and she was celebrated for her intellect and creativity.
During the Ottoman Empire, Afifah Sultan was a prominent figure in the 16th century. She was the daughter of Sultan Selim I and was known for her philanthropic works and her patronage of the arts and architecture.
In more recent history, Afifah al-Khatib was a Palestinian activist and educator who lived from 1901 to 1992. She was a pioneer in the field of women's education in Palestine and played a crucial role in establishing schools for girls in the region.
The name Afifah has remained popular among Muslim communities around the world, and it continues to be a symbol of virtue, modesty, and piety. Its rich history and cultural significance have made it a cherished name for generations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Afifah over time
The chart below shows babies named Afifah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Afifah, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Afifah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Afifah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4535 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4328 | 40 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3128 | 47 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3498 | 14 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Afifah
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Afifah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Afifah in the UK right now?
In 2020, Afifah was ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Afifah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 10 babies registered as Afifah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Afifah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "chaste" or "virtuous".
How many people are called Afifah in the UK?
A total of 105 babies have been registered as Afifah across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.