Given name & surname · also Arabic
Safia
“one who is pure”·“having the lion's share”
Safia is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is pure” and “having the lion's share”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is pure” and “having the lion's share”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1975. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Safia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,616
- 0 boys · 1,616 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 75 babies
- 2025
- 75
- #2,403 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +26%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 75 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,403 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 25.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (11). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,837 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.
Safia’s family of names
Safia has a related form in Safiya. Safia has a related form in Safiyyah. Safia has a related form in Safiyah.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Safiyavariant
- Safiyyahvariant
- Safiyahvariant
- Saffiyavariant
- Safeyavariant
- Safiahvariant
- Safeiavariant
- Safiyehvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Safia
- Safia Farkashsecond wife of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafiborn 1952
- Safiyya bint Abd al-MuttalibSahaba570–640
- Safia AmajanWomen's rights advocate from Afghanistan (1941-2006)
- Safia FarhatTunisian drawer, painter, ceramist, tapissier and decorator (1924-2004)
- Safia BoukhimaAlgerian volleyball playerborn 1991
- Safia ChamiaTunisian singer and actress (1932-2004)
- Safia Abdi Haasenurseborn 1959
- Safia El EmariEgyptian actressborn 1949
- Al-HujayjahArabic poet600–601
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Safia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Marwa
Marwa is a feminine given name from Arabic.
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Hawa
“one who is desired”
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Semira
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Adhara
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