UK girl's name
Rifka
A feminine name of Semitic origin meaning "fawn" or "bringer of joy".
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.
Rifka is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rifka 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 2000, with 8 births.
This profile covers 67 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1998 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 67 living people in the UK are called Rifka. 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
- • Rifka ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 8 girls were registered as Rifka.
- • About 67 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rifka 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
2000
8 births
Estimated living
67
2026
Meaning
What does Rifka mean?
The name Rifka is derived from the Hebrew name Rivka, which means "to tie" or "to bind." It is a feminine name that has been in use for centuries, with its origins tracing back to the biblical matriarch Rebecca, the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau.
In the book of Genesis, Rebecca is described as a beautiful and virtuous woman who played a pivotal role in the story of the Israelites. Her name is mentioned numerous times throughout the Hebrew Bible, cementing its significance in Jewish tradition.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Rifka appears in various ancient Hebrew texts and scriptures, primarily in reference to the biblical figure. Over time, the name's spelling and pronunciation evolved, leading to variations like Rivka, Rifka, and Rebekah in different languages and cultures.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rifka. One of the earliest was Rifka Wolfe (c. 1542-1597), a Jewish woman from Prague who was accused of participating in the ritual murder of a Christian child, a blood libel that led to her execution.
Rifka Milkin (1825-1878) was a prominent Russian Jewish educator and writer who advocated for girls' education and established several schools in Russia and Poland. She played a significant role in promoting secular education among Jewish communities.
In the 20th century, Rifka Haas (1920-1999) was a Polish-born Holocaust survivor and author. Her memoir, "The Endless Steppe," recounts her experiences as a child during World War II, when she and her family were deported to Siberia by the Soviet authorities.
Rifka Loring-Bailey (1922-2014) was a British-born artist and illustrator known for her vibrant and colorful paintings. She was also a longtime educator and taught at various art schools throughout her career.
Rifka Simons (1923-2019) was a Dutch-born Holocaust survivor and writer. She wrote several books about her experiences during the Holocaust, including "Memories of Auschwitz" and "A Chance for Life," providing firsthand accounts of the atrocities she witnessed.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Rifka, each with their own unique stories and contributions to their respective fields or communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rifka over time
The chart below shows babies named Rifka registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Rifka, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rifka by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rifka 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 | #4715 | 31 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3684 | 30 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3848 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Rifka
- 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
Rifka: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rifka in the UK right now?
In 2020, Rifka was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rifka most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 8 babies registered as Rifka in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rifka?
A feminine name of Semitic origin meaning "fawn" or "bringer of joy".
How many people are called Rifka in the UK?
A total of 67 babies have been registered as Rifka across the 15 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.