Declining since 2017, #5,099 for girls today.
Popularity of Safaa since 1990
Babies named Safaa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 27 |
| 2000s | 114 |
| 2010s | 245 |
| 2020s | 129 |
Meaning & origin
Safaa, an Arabic name meaning 'purity', has been in use in the United States since at least 1990. It reached its peak popularity in 2016, ranking 5,099 in 2025. The name has been on a downward trajectory since 2017, reflecting a broader trend away from traditional Arabic names in the U.S. Despite this, Safaa remains a meaningful choice for families seeking a name with clear cultural roots and a virtuous meaning. It is rarely given, with about 1 in 64,291 baby girls receiving the name in recent years.
Safaa comes from the Arabic root ṣ-f-w, which conveys purity, clarity, or selectness. It is the feminine form of Safi, and in Arabic, it directly means 'pure' or 'clear'. The name has been used across the Arab world and among Muslim communities, often chosen for its virtuous connotations.
“Safaa” around the world
Where Safaa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
60
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Safi, Saffy
Sibling names for Safaa
Names that share Safaa's style, for a brother or sister.
