Holding steady.
Popularity of Hanifah since 1974
Babies named Hanifah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 9 |
| 1980s | 32 |
| 1990s | 54 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Hanifah is a feminine name of Arabic origin, meaning 'true believer' or 'upright one,' drawn from the Quranic concept of hanif. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1974, and its usage has remained very rare and stable over the decades, with no significant peaks or declines. The name has never ranked among the top thousand names for any year, reflecting its niche appeal. It is predominantly used within Muslim communities in the United States, though its roots are deeply tied to the Abrahamic tradition shared across multiple faiths.
Hanifah is the feminine form of Hanif, an Arabic term that appears in the Quran to describe a person who is naturally monotheistic and upright, turning away from falsehood. The masculine Hanif is associated with the pre-Islamic Abrahamic tradition. Hanifah has been used as a given name in Arabic-speaking and Muslim communities, though it has not been historically common in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hani, Nifa
Sibling names for Hanifah
Names that share Hanifah's style, for a brother or sister.
