Rising since 2010, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Arif since 1968
Babies named Arif per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 15 |
| 1970s | 72 |
| 1980s | 137 |
| 1990s | 149 |
| 2000s | 159 |
| 2010s | 112 |
| 2020s | 70 |
Meaning & origin
Arif, a name of Arabic origin meaning 'wise' or 'knowledgeable,' has been in use in the United States since at least 1968. It reached its peak popularity in 2007, and data shows it has been rising in usage since 2010, appealing to families seeking a name with intellectual and spiritual resonance. With a current rank of 7,679 and a 1-in-170,808 occurrence rate, it remains relatively rare, offering a distinctive choice rooted in a rich linguistic tradition.
Arif comes from the Arabic root ع-ر-ف (ʿ-r-f), which conveys knowledge and recognition. The name means 'one who knows' or 'wise,' often used in Islamic contexts to denote spiritual insight. It has been common across the Muslim world for centuries, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East.
“Arif” around the world
Where Arif lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Aref, Aarif
Sibling names for Arif
Names that share Arif's style, for a brother or sister.
