Sherif
Meaningnoble · Arabic
Sherif is an Arabic boy name meaning “noble”. 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 crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Sherif and you get Fisher. Same letters, different name.
- Word funSherif doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Sherif would score 12 points, thanks largely to the H (worth 4).
- GenerationSherif peaked in 1982, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Sherif you'd meet today is about 43 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Sherifs too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Sherif would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 188,679 baby boys got the name in 2025.
- HistorySherif first shows up in US birth records in 1969, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 56 years since.
US births per million boys, 1969–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Sherif
Sherif is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “noble”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 1980s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Amir · prince, commander
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Muhammad · praised
- Boy name: Omar · flourishing, long-lived
Questions about the name Sherif
What does the name Sherif mean?
Sherif means “noble” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “noble” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Allison (“noble”), Arya (“noble”), Bryan (“possibly noble, strong”) and Brian (“possibly noble, strong”).
What is the origin of the name Sherif?
Sherif is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).
Is Sherif a boy or girl name?
Sherif is a boy name. In 2025, 9 US boys were named Sherif.
How popular is the name Sherif?
Sherif ranked #8,243 for US boys in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 1982, when it reached #3,282.
What names are similar to Sherif?
If you like Sherif, you might also like Allison, Arya, Bryan and Brian.
What should I know before naming my baby Sherif?
Sherif is an Arabic boy name meaning “noble”. 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 crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, 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.