Afifa

Meaning & origin

Afifa (pronounced ah-FEE-fah) is an Arabic feminine name meaning 'chaste, virtuous, modest,' drawn from the root 'afafa. While the name has deep roots in Islamic culture and remains cherished in Arabic-speaking communities, its usage in the United States is quite rare. According to Social Security data, Afifa first entered the U.S. naming record in 1990, and by 2025 it ranked 10,917 with a frequency of 1 in 200,908 births. The name reached its peak popularity in 2016, though it has maintained a stable trajectory since then, never becoming widespread. Because of its uncommon status, no top states for this name have been recorded, highlighting its highly selective appeal. Afifa offers a meaningful, virtuous connotation for parents seeking a distinctive name with strong cultural and religious resonance, but its rarity means it is unlikely to be frequently encountered in everyday life.

Afifa is the feminine form of the Arabic masculine name 'Afif (عفيف), derived from the root 'afafa (عفف) meaning 'to be chaste, abstinent, virtuous.' The name has been used across the Arabic-speaking world for centuries, favored in Islamic cultures for its positive moral connotations. It remains a traditional choice, though less common in recent decades.