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Safia

Girl name · Arabic

Meaningpure, sincere friend · Arabic

Safia is an Arabic girl name meaning “pure, sincere friend”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • GenerationSafia is having its moment right now. Most Safias are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Safia would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 21,413 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistorySafia first shows up in US birth records in 1975, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 50 years since.
  • Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Safias? Head to Minnesota, where it's the #835 girl name, its best showing of any state.
Baby girl in a white dress sitting in the grass
hello, little Safia

US births per million girls, 1975–2025

023.547197520002025

Most popular states (2025)

MN rank #835OH rank #959

Similar names

Girl name: SofiaGirl name: SafaGirl name: SafiyaGirl name: FiaGirl name: SafiyyahUnisex name: Safina
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Safia

Safia is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “pure, sincere friend”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It has been around for generations, yet it's never been more loved than it is today. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

Other spellings of Safia

Girl name: SafiyaGirl name: Safiyyah

More Arabic girl names

Questions about the name Safia

What does the name Safia mean?

Safia means “pure, sincere friend” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Sincere (“sincere”), Safiyyah (“pure, sincere friend”), Atsuko (“often sincere child”) and Atsumi (“often sincere beauty”).

What is the origin of the name Safia?

Safia is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).

Is Safia a boy or girl name?

Safia is a girl name. In 2025, 75 US girls were named Safia.

How popular is the name Safia?

Safia ranked #2,387 for US girls in 2025, given to 75 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 951 places.

What names are similar to Safia?

If you like Safia, you might also like Safiya, Safiyyah, Sincere, Atsuko and Atsumi. Safiya is another spelling of the same name.

What should I know before naming my baby Safia?

Safia is an Arabic girl name meaning “pure, sincere friend”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.