Holding steady.
Popularity of Lateefa since 1975
Babies named Lateefa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1989, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lateefa's real moment was 1982.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 42 |
| 1980s | 63 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Lateefa is a rare feminine name of Arabic origin, first appearing in U.S. records in 1975. While it has never broken into the top 1000, the name reached its peak usage in 1982, reflecting modest interest during that period. The trajectory from the 1980s onward has been stable, with very low but consistent annual counts. Because the name remains uncommon, no states recorded significant usage in the Social Security data. Lateefa shares its root with the more widely known Latifah, popularized by entertainer Queen Latifah, though the spelling Lateefa stays closer to the Arabic transliteration. Its gentle meaning and spiritual resonance keep it a meaningful choice for families seeking a name with quiet depth.
Lateefa derives from the Arabic root 'L-T-F' (لطف) meaning 'to be gentle, subtle, kind.' It is the feminine form of Lateef, one of the 99 names of God in Islam (Al-Latif, 'The Subtle One'). The name has long been used across the Arabic-speaking world and in Muslim communities globally, often chosen to reflect desirable personal qualities.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tifa, Lati
Sibling names for Lateefa
Names that share Lateefa's style, for a brother or sister.
