Safiyyah
Meaningpure, sincere friend · Arabic
Safiyyah 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 flowing and melodic, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Safiyyah would score 20 points, thanks largely to the F (worth 4). A high-scoring name!
- GenerationSafiyyah peaked in 1981, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Safiyyah you'd meet today is about 44 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Safiyyahs too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Safiyyah would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 44,643 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistorySafiyyah first shows up in US birth records in 1976, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 49 years since.
US births per million girls, 1976–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Safiyyah
Safiyyah is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “pure, sincere friend”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, and plenty of room for a nickname, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1980s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
Other spellings of Safiyyah
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Safiyyah
What does the name Safiyyah mean?
Safiyyah means “pure, sincere friend” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Sincere (“sincere”), Safia (“pure, sincere friend”), Atsuko (“often sincere child”) and Atsumi (“often sincere beauty”).
What is the origin of the name Safiyyah?
Safiyyah is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Safiyyah a boy or girl name?
Safiyyah is a girl name. In 2025, 36 US girls were named Safiyyah.
How popular is the name Safiyyah?
Safiyyah ranked #3,975 for US girls in 2025, given to 36 babies. Its best year was 1981, when it reached #3,532. Over the last five years it has climbed 478 places.
What names are similar to Safiyyah?
If you like Safiyyah, you might also like Safiya, Safia, Sincere, Atsuko and Atsumi. Safiya is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Safiyyah?
Safiyyah 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 flowing and melodic, it's a longer name that leaves plenty of room for nicknames, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.