Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Ife

Ife

♀ Girl

Pronounced EE-fay /ˈiː.feɪ/Low

Meaning: Ife is a Yoruba name from Nigeria meaning 'love,' and it also recalls Ile-Ife, the ancient and sacred Yoruba city regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba people. Warm and short, it appears on its own and as an element in fuller Yoruba names such as Ifeoma and Ifetayo.Medium

In 30 seconds: Ife is a Yoruba name meaning 'love,' also tied to the sacred city Ile-Ife. It is rare in the United States (said EE-fay).
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumYoruba
MeaningIfe is a Yoruba name from Nigeria meaning 'love,' and it also recalls Ile-Ife, the ancient and sacred Yoruba city regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba people. Warm and short, it appears on its own and as an element in fuller Yoruba names such as Ifeoma and Ifetayo.
U.S. rank (2018)#10090 ↗ Rising
2018 U.S. births10 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1977
Total births (all-time)≈ 202

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197719702018

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ife is a Yoruba word for 'love' used as a given name, and it carries an added resonance through Ile-Ife, the historic city in southwestern Nigeria revered as the spiritual home of the Yoruba. It travelled to the United States mainly with families of Nigerian and broader West African heritage, and it also lives inside longer names like Ifeoluwa, 'love of God.'

In American records the name is uncommon, given to only a dozen or so girls a year at its peak around 1977 and appearing quietly since. A girl named Ife then is in her forties today.

Did you know? Ile-Ife, which shares its name with Ife, is honored in Yoruba tradition as the place where the world and the Yoruba people began, giving the short name deep cultural weight.
Overall data confidence 55%
References - Ife — Yoruba 'love'; also Ile-Ife, sacred Yoruba city

Variations

IfeomaIfeoluwaIfetayo

Nicknames

IffyFefeIfy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ife…

Ifeoma— a fuller Yoruba name built on Ife
Amara— a like warm African girl's name
Zola— shares the short, meaningful African feel
Nia— another brief African virtue name

Explore names like Ife

By themerarevirtue-nameafricanyoruba

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ife mean?

It is a Yoruba name meaning 'love,' also echoing Ile-Ife, the sacred Yoruba city.

How do you pronounce Ife?

It is said EE-fay /ˈiː.feɪ/, two syllables stressed on the first.

Is Ife a boy or girl name?

Ife is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Ife?

It is rare in the United States, given to only a small number of girls a year and most familiar among families of Yoruba and West African heritage.

💬 Ask Nia