NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Latifa

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "kind", "gentle", or "pleasant".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Latifa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Latifa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 16 births.

This profile covers 266 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 265 living people in the UK are called Latifa. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Latifa ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 16 girls were registered as Latifa.
  • About 265 living people in the UK are estimated to have Latifa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3015

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2010

16 births

Estimated living

265

2026

Meaning

What does Latifa mean?

The name Latifa has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is a feminine name derived from the Arabic word "latif," meaning "delicate," "fine," or "subtle." This name has been in use among Arabic-speaking populations for centuries.

In Islamic tradition, Latifa is considered one of the 99 names or attributes of Allah, referring to His quality of being subtle and kind. The name is mentioned in religious texts and scriptures, such as the Quran and Hadith.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Latifa can be found in historical records from the 7th century CE. During the Umayyad Caliphate, there was a notable woman named Latifa bint Abd al-Rahman, who was a poet and scholar.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Latifa. One of the most famous was Latifa al-Zayyat (1923-1996), an Egyptian writer, feminist, and activist known for her contributions to Arabic literature and women's rights movements.

Another prominent figure was Latifa al-Aroussia (1900-1976), a Moroccan singer and performer who played a significant role in preserving and promoting Moroccan musical heritage.

In the field of education, Latifa al-Ghudayer (1918-2010) was a Saudi Arabian educator and advocate for women's education. She established the first private girls' school in Jeddah and contributed to the advancement of female education in Saudi Arabia.

The name Latifa has also been carried by influential figures in politics and government. Latifa Akharbach (born 1943) is a Moroccan politician and women's rights activist who served as the Secretary of State for Family, Solidarity, and Social Action in Morocco.

Furthermore, Latifa Ibn Ziaten (born 1960) is a French activist and advocate for tolerance and peace. She founded an organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and combating extremism after her son, a French soldier, was tragically killed by a terrorist.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Latifa over time

The chart below shows babies named Latifa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Latifa, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Latifa
0481216199620102024

Decades

Latifa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Latifa 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 #2830 43 5
2010s #2782 99 10
2000s #2232 92 10
1990s #2171 32 4

Related

Names similar to Latifa

FAQ

Latifa: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Latifa was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Latifa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 16 babies registered as Latifa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Latifa?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "kind", "gentle", or "pleasant".

How many people are called Latifa in the UK?

A total of 266 babies have been registered as Latifa across the 29 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.