UK girl's name
Rafif
A masculine Arabic name meaning "refined" or "soft".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rafif is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rafif popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5742, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2013 to 2013. 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.
Rafif is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Rafif. 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 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rafif ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3 girls were registered as Rafif.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rafif as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5742
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Rafif mean?
Rafif is a given name that originates from the Arabic language. The name is derived from the Arabic word "rafaf," which means "trembling" or "quivering." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who had a gentle or delicate demeanor.
The earliest recorded use of the name Rafif can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age. This was a period in which the Arabic language and culture flourished, and many names were coined or gained popularity.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Rafif was Rafif ibn Sinan, a Muslim scholar and poet who lived in the 8th century CE. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his expertise in various fields, including grammar and rhetoric.
Another notable figure with the name Rafif was Rafif al-Dimashqi, a 13th-century Syrian scholar and historian. He is best known for his work "Al-Nukat al-'Asriyyah fi Akhbar al-Wuzara' al-Misriyyah" (The Contemporary Notes on the History of the Egyptian Viziers), which provides valuable insights into the political and social climate of Egypt during that time.
In the 14th century, there was a Persian poet and mystic named Rafif al-Din Shirazi, who was known for his spiritual poetry and his contributions to the Sufi tradition.
Moving forward in history, Rafif al-Rifa'i was a 17th-century Ottoman scholar and jurist who played a significant role in the development of Islamic jurisprudence.
More recently, in the 20th century, Rafif Jouejati was a prominent Syrian artist and sculptor. Born in 1910, she was known for her unique style, which blended traditional Syrian art with modern influences.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Rafif. While the name may have originated from a specific linguistic and cultural context, it has transcended boundaries and been embraced by people across different regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Rafif by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rafif 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5742 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rafif
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rafif: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rafif in the UK right now?
In 2013, Rafif was ranked #5742 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rafif most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3 babies registered as Rafif in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rafif?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "refined" or "soft".
How many people are called Rafif in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Rafif across the 1 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.