NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Raifa

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "fruitful" or "fertile".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Raifa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Raifa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 5 births.

This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2019 to 2020. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Raifa. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Raifa ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 5 girls were registered as Raifa.
  • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Raifa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5493

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2019

5 births

Estimated living

8

2026

Meaning

What does Raifa mean?

The name Raifa is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "rafi'ah," which means "elevated" or "exalted." It is a feminine name that has been used in various parts of the Arab world for centuries.

The earliest known reference to the name Raifa can be found in ancient Islamic texts and manuscripts dating back to the 7th century AD. It was a name given to women of noble or respected families during the early years of Islam.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Raifa is Raifa bint Ismail, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Medina during the 8th century AD. She was known for her literary contributions and her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence.

Another notable figure in history with the name Raifa was Raifa al-Baghdadiya, a 10th-century philosopher and mathematician from Baghdad. She was known for her work in the field of logic and her contributions to the development of Islamic philosophy.

In the 12th century, Raifa bint Abi Bakr al-Ansari was a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Damascus. She was known for her spiritual teachings and her dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.

During the 14th century, Raifa al-Isfahani was a celebrated poet and calligrapher from Isfahan, Iran. Her works were widely admired and appreciated for their beauty and elegance.

Another notable figure with the name Raifa was Raifa al-Malikiyya, a 16th-century Ottoman princess and patron of the arts. She was known for her support of artists and scholars and her contributions to the cultural development of the Ottoman Empire.

Throughout the centuries, the name Raifa has been associated with individuals of great intellect, wisdom, and spirituality. It has been a name carried by scholars, poets, philosophers, and religious leaders across various regions and cultures influenced by Arabic and Islamic traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Raifa over time

The chart below shows babies named Raifa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2019 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Raifa, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Raifa
01345201920192020

Decades

Raifa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Raifa 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 #5493 3 1
2010s #4001 5 1

Related

Names similar to Raifa

FAQ

Raifa: questions and answers

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

In 2020, Raifa was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Raifa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 5 babies registered as Raifa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Raifa?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "fruitful" or "fertile".

How many people are called Raifa in the UK?

A total of 8 babies have been registered as Raifa across the 2 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.