NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rafeef

An Arabic name meaning "companion" or "close friend".

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.

Rafeef is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rafeef popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 4 births.

This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2011 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Rafeef. 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

  • Rafeef ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 4 girls were registered as Rafeef.
  • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rafeef as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

4 births

Estimated living

16

2026

Meaning

What does Rafeef mean?

The name Rafeef is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "rafaf" which means "to flutter" or "to wave." This name is believed to have first emerged during the medieval period in the Middle East, particularly in regions where Arabic culture and language flourished.

One of the earliest known references to the name Rafeef can be found in classical Arabic literature, where it was used as a poetic description for gentle breezes or the fluttering of leaves. The name's connection to nature and the delicate movements of the wind or foliage may have contributed to its adoption as a given name.

In the 10th century, a renowned Arabic scholar and historian, Rafeef al-Baghdadi, born in 923 CE and died in 997 CE, gained recognition for his extensive works on the history of Baghdad and the Abbasid Caliphate. His writings provide valuable insights into the cultural and intellectual landscape of that era, making him one of the earliest notable figures to bear this name.

Another historical figure associated with the name Rafeef was Rafeef al-Andalusi, a prominent poet and literary figure from medieval Andalusia (modern-day Spain and Portugal). Born in 1035 CE and died in 1109 CE, he was celebrated for his mastery of Arabic poetry and his contributions to the flourishing literary scene during the golden age of Islamic civilization in the Iberian Peninsula.

In the 13th century, Rafeef al-Dimashqi, a Syrian scholar and traveler, born in 1256 CE and died in 1327 CE, gained fame for his extensive travels across the Middle East and North Africa. His travelogues and accounts of different regions and cultures provide a rich historical perspective on the diverse landscapes and societies of that time.

Moving forward to the 19th century, Rafeef Pasha al-Azmeh, born in 1825 CE and died in 1892 CE, was a prominent Ottoman statesman and diplomat. He served as the governor of various provinces within the Ottoman Empire and played a significant role in the political and administrative affairs of the region during his lifetime.

Throughout history, the name Rafeef has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and literary traditions associated with the Arabic language and the regions where it was spoken and written.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rafeef over time

The chart below shows babies named Rafeef registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 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 Rafeef, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rafeef
01234201120172024

Decades

Rafeef by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rafeef 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 #5891 3 1
2010s #5505 13 4

Related

Names similar to Rafeef

FAQ

Rafeef: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rafeef was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Rafeef most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 4 babies registered as Rafeef in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rafeef?

An Arabic name meaning "companion" or "close friend".

How many people are called Rafeef in the UK?

A total of 16 babies have been registered as Rafeef across the 5 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.