NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Alifa

A feminine Arabic name meaning "honourable companion" or "outstanding friend".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Alifa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Alifa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 5 births.

This profile covers 36 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2004 to 2023. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 36 living people in the UK are called Alifa. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Alifa ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 5 girls were registered as Alifa.
  • About 36 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alifa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4709

2023

Births in 2023

4

Latest year

Peak year

2004

5 births

Estimated living

36

2026

Meaning

What does Alifa mean?

The name Alifa is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "alfa," which means "first" or "the beginning." This name has been in use since ancient times and has its roots in the Arabic language and culture.

In the Islamic tradition, the name Alifa is often associated with the first letter of the Arabic alphabet, which is also called "alif." This letter holds great significance in the Arabic language and is considered a symbol of unity and oneness.

Some historical records suggest that the name Alifa was mentioned in ancient Arabic texts and manuscripts, although specific references are limited. It is believed that the name gained popularity during the golden age of the Islamic civilization, particularly in regions where Arabic was the predominant language.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Alifa can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab scholar and philosopher, Al-Farabi (870-950 CE). He mentioned a student named Alifa in one of his works, providing a glimpse into the use of this name during that time period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alifa. One such person was Alifa bint Al-Qasim (d. 980 CE), a renowned Arab poet and scholar from Cordoba, Spain. Her poetry and literary works were highly regarded and celebrated in her era.

Another notable figure was Alifa Al-Andalusi (1020-1090 CE), a prominent mathematician and astronomer from Islamic Spain. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and wrote several treatises on various subjects.

In the 12th century, Alifa Al-Hadrami (1120-1190 CE) was a renowned Sufi scholar and mystic from Yemen. His teachings and writings on Islamic spirituality and mysticism were widely read and studied.

During the 13th century, Alifa Al-Maghribi (1210-1283 CE) was a renowned physician and philosopher from Morocco. He wrote extensively on topics ranging from medicine to metaphysics and was highly respected in his field.

Lastly, Alifa Al-Shirazi (1350-1420 CE) was a Persian poet and calligrapher from Shiraz, Iran. His poetic works and intricate calligraphic styles were celebrated throughout the Persian literary world.

While the name Alifa has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and has been adopted by various communities around the world, each imbuing it with their own cultural and linguistic nuances.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alifa over time

The chart below shows babies named Alifa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Alifa, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Alifa
01345200420132023

Decades

Alifa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alifa 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 #5107 14 4
2010s #5754 6 2
2000s #4419 16 4

Related

Names similar to Alifa

FAQ

Alifa: questions and answers

How popular is the name Alifa in the UK right now?

In 2023, Alifa was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Alifa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 5 babies registered as Alifa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alifa?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "honourable companion" or "outstanding friend".

How many people are called Alifa in the UK?

A total of 36 babies have been registered as Alifa across the 10 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.