Rising since 2019, #8,362 for girls today.
Popularity of Wafa since 1974
Babies named Wafa per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 19 |
| 1980s | 97 |
| 1990s | 103 |
| 2000s | 118 |
| 2010s | 84 |
| 2020s | 60 |
Meaning & origin
Wafa entered U.S. birth records in 1974 and has remained a rare but enduring choice for parents seeking a name with deep cultural and linguistic roots. The name peaked in usage in 1999, and after a period of decline, it has been rising again since 2019, ranking 8,362 in 2025 with an estimated 1 in every 133,939 girls receiving the name. While its overall numbers are small, the trajectory suggests a quiet resurgence, likely driven by renewed appreciation for virtues embodied in the name. Wafa is a straightforward yet meaningful name that connects a child to Arabic heritage and a timeless ideal of loyalty.
Wafa derives from the Arabic root w-f-y, which conveys the concept of fulfilling a promise or being faithful. As a feminine given name, it has been used across the Arabic-speaking world for decades, often chosen for its virtuous connotation. While it has never reached the top ranks in the United States, it has maintained a steady if rare presence since 1974.
“Wafa” around the world
Where Wafa lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Wafaa, Wafah
Sibling names for Wafa
Names that share Wafa's style, for a brother or sister.
