Rising since 2008, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Latifah since 1974
Babies named Latifah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 101 |
| 1980s | 241 |
| 1990s | 947 |
| 2000s | 84 |
| 2010s | 72 |
| 2020s | 31 |
Meaning & origin
Latifah entered U.S. records in 1974, gradually gaining attention and reaching its peak popularity in 1990. After a period of decline, the name has been rising again since 2008, though it remains uncommon: in 2025, about 1 in 267,878 baby girls received the name. Its upward trajectory in recent years may reflect renewed appreciation for Arabic-origin names with positive meanings. Latifah is not concentrated in any single U.S. state, indicating broad but sparse usage across the country. The name's gentle meaning and melodic sound give it a quiet appeal, and its association with acclaimed entertainer Queen Latifah has kept it in the public eye without overwhelming its rarity.
Latifah is the feminine form of the Arabic name Latif, derived from the root L-T-F meaning 'gentle, kind, subtle'. The name appears in Islamic tradition as one of the attributes of God (Al-Latif, 'the Subtle One'). It has been used across the Muslim world and entered English-speaking countries through African-American communities in the late 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Tifa, Lati
Sibling names for Latifah
Names that share Latifah's style, for a brother or sister.
