Given name

Hanifah

“a true believer; one who is upright”

Hanifah is a variant of Hanifa. In Arabic use, Hanifa carries the interpretation “a true believer; one who is upright.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

Hanifah is a variant of Hanifa. In Arabic use, Hanifa carries the interpretation “a true believer; one who is upright.”

Explained through its name family

Where it comes from

Hanifah connects to the Hanif name family through Hanifa. An origin associated with Hanif is Arabic.

Explained through its name family

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1974. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Hanifah through the years

Babies since 1880
161
0 boys · 161 girls
Most popular year
1974
9 babies
2025
0
Outside the ranked list
2021–25 vs 2016–20
—
Too few births to compare
02468198020002025Highest share 19740.0
Hanifah in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1974–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 8 in 2024. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 229 as a first name in 2020.

From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.

Hanifah’s family of names

Hanifah has a related form in Hanifa.

Walk Hanifah’s family in the name graph

HanifahHanifaHannifah

The ring: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 2

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Similar names

If you love Hanifah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

 

Anissa

“one who is affectionate and friendly”

32RareEasing

>99% girls

 

Angelita

“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”

21RareEasing

>99% girls

 

Tahira

“one who is chaste; pure”

21RareSteady

>99% girls

 

Karena

“one who is pure; virginal”

20RareCooling

>99% girls

 

Sakinah

“a beloved friend” · “having God-inspired peace of mind”

20RareRising

>99% girls

Arabic

Khalilah

“a beloved friend”

25RareRising

>99% girls

 

Jenifer

“one who is fair; a beautiful girl”

20RareEasing

>99% girls

 

Arcelia

“from the altar of heaven”

22RareRising fast

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Hanifah’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Hanifah

A sister for Hanifah