Given name & surname
Safiya
“one who is pure”·“having the lion's share”
Safiya is a variant of Safia. Interpretations include “one who is pure” and “having the lion's share”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Original ArabicSafiyya
Meaning & origin
What it means
Safiya is a variant of Safia. Interpretations include “one who is pure” and “having the lion's share”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1973. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Safiya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,831
- 0 boys · 2,831 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 168 babies
- 2025
- 168
- #1,333 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +65%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 168 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,333 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 65.5% 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 (34). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,230 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.
Safiya’s family of names
Safiya has a related form in Safia. In Arabic usage, Safiya has a related form in SAFIYYA.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Safiya
- Safiya ZaghloulEgyptian activist and leader1876–1946
- Safiya HussainiNigerian woman accused of adultery1967–2024
- Safiya WazirCommunity activist - first Afghan refugee to be elected as a state representative in New Hampshire, United States.born 1991
- Safiya NobleAmerican professor and authorborn 1950
- Safiya SonghaiAmerican film directorborn 1980
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Safiya, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Marwa
Marwa is a feminine given name from Arabic.
>99% girls
Sevda
“a parent's great love”
>99% girls
Adhara
>99% girls
Alaia
“one who is majestic, of high worth” · “joy”
>99% girls
Hayat
“a lively woman; giver of life”
>99% girls
Amatullah
Amatullah is a feminine given name from Arabic.
>99% girls
Soumaya
“perfect”
>99% girls
Macarena
“blessed, happy”
>99% girls