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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lateef

Lateef

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Lateef

Pronounced luh-TEEF /ləˈtif/Medium

Meaning: Lateef comes from the Arabic Latīf, 'gentle, kind, subtle'; al-Latīf ('the Subtle, the Gentle') is one of the ninety-nine names of God in Islam, making it a name of real weight in Muslim families.High

In 30 seconds: Lateef is an Arabic name meaning 'gentle' or 'kind' — al-Latīf is one of the names of God — carried in the U.S. as an uncommon but meaningful boy's name (said 'luh-TEEF').
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Origin HighArabic
MeaningLateef comes from the Arabic Latīf, 'gentle, kind, subtle'; al-Latīf ('the Subtle, the Gentle') is one of the ninety-nine names of God in Islam, making it a name of real weight in Muslim families.
U.S. rank (2022)#11703 ↘ Falling
2022 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1977
Total births (all-time)≈ 891

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197719672022

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

Lateef transliterates the Arabic Latīf, 'gentle, kind, subtle'. As al-Latīf it is one of the ninety-nine names of God, so the name carries a devotional resonance. It entered U.S. records in the later twentieth century, often within Muslim families.

It has stayed uncommon but steady, valued for its gentle meaning rather than fashion. Musicians such as Yusef Lateef gave it cultural visibility in the jazz world.

Did you know? The jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef helped make the name familiar to American ears, though the word itself is far older, drawn from one of the divine names in Islam.
Overall data confidence 80%
References — Latif — Arabic 'gentle, kind'; al-Latif, a name of GodCultural note — Yusef Lateef — jazz musician bearing the name (surname); needs verification

Variations

LatifLutfi

Nicknames

Teef

Famous Bearers

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If you like Lateef…

Kareem— another Arabic virtue name, 'generous'
Jamil— a like Arabic boy's name meaning 'beautiful'
Rashad— shares the Arabic origin and two-beat sound
Tariq— a familiar Arabic name of similar weight

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lateef mean?

Lateef is an Arabic name meaning 'gentle, kind, or subtle'; al-Latīf is one of the ninety-nine names of God.

How do you pronounce Lateef?

It's said luh-TEEF /ləˈtif/ — 2 syllables, stress on the second.

Is Lateef a boy or girl name?

Lateef is used as a boy's name in the U.S.

How popular is Lateef?

Lateef is an uncommon but established boy's name in the U.S., especially in Muslim families.

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