Holding steady, #5,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Sarafina since 1914
Babies named Sarafina per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 11 |
| 1920s | 16 |
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 41 |
| 1990s | 219 |
| 2000s | 162 |
| 2010s | 198 |
| 2020s | 96 |
Meaning & origin
Sarafina is a melodious Italian elaboration of Serafino, ultimately from the Hebrew seraphim, meaning 'fiery ones,' angels described in biblical tradition. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1914, but saw its peak popularity in 1993, likely influenced by the 1992 film 'Sarafina!' starring Leleti Khumalo. Its trajectory has been stable in recent years, and in 2025 it ranked 5,917th with a frequency of 1 in 80,363 births. While not among the top baby names, Sarafina offers a distinctive yet familiar sound, fitting well with classical Italian names like Sofia and Isabella.
Sarafina is an Italian feminine elaboration of Serafino, itself derived from the Hebrew שְׂרָפִים (seraphim), meaning 'fiery ones' and referring to a class of celestial beings in Judeo-Christian tradition. It has been used occasionally in Italian-speaking regions since the late 19th century, but gained wider recognition through the 1992 film 'Sarafina!'.
“Sarafina” around the world
Where Sarafina lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sara, Fina, Safi
Sibling names for Sarafina
Names that share Sarafina's style, for a brother or sister.
