UK girl's name
Haneefa
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "follower of the true path".
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.
Haneefa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Haneefa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 10 births.
This profile covers 108 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1997 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 107 living people in the UK are called Haneefa. 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
- • Haneefa ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 10 girls were registered as Haneefa.
- • About 107 living people in the UK are estimated to have Haneefa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2014
10 births
Estimated living
107
2026
Meaning
What does Haneefa mean?
The given name Haneefa has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "hanif," which means "true believer" or "one who follows the straight path." The name is closely associated with the Islamic faith and its principles of monotheism and righteousness.
In Arabic, the name Haneefa is written as حنيفة (Ḥanīfah). It has been in use since the early days of Islam, and its popularity can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the time of Prophet Muhammad and the rise of the Islamic empire.
One of the most prominent historical references to the name Haneefa is found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The term "hanif" is mentioned several times in the Quran, referring to those who followed the true monotheistic faith before the advent of Islam.
The earliest recorded example of the name Haneefa is Abu Haneefa Al-Nu'man ibn Thabit (699-767 AD), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist who founded the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Islamic scholars of all time and his teachings have had a profound impact on Islamic law and theology.
Another notable figure in Islamic history who bore the name Haneefa was Haneefa ibn Ludhaym (d. 767 AD), a companion of Prophet Muhammad and a respected scholar in his own right. He was known for his piety and knowledge of Islamic traditions.
In the field of literature, one of the most famous individuals with the name Haneefa was Abu Haneefa Dinavari (d. 896 AD), a Persian historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of the Islamic world and the lives of prominent Islamic figures.
Haneefa ibn Ishaq (d. 873 AD) was an influential Arab mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of algebra and the study of celestial bodies.
Lastly, Haneefa ibn Muhammad (d. 1042 AD) was a Persian poet and philosopher who is renowned for his poetic works and his contemplations on the nature of existence and the human condition.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have carried the name Haneefa throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in the Islamic faith and its association with scholarship, piety, and intellectual pursuits.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Haneefa over time
The chart below shows babies named Haneefa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Haneefa, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Haneefa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Haneefa 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 | #4731 | 12 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3808 | 51 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3439 | 39 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3862 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Haneefa
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Haneefa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Haneefa in the UK right now?
In 2023, Haneefa was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Haneefa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 10 babies registered as Haneefa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Haneefa?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "follower of the true path".
How many people are called Haneefa in the UK?
A total of 108 babies have been registered as Haneefa 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.