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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Lateefah

Lateefah

♀ Girl

Pronounced luh-TEE-fuh /lΙ™Λˆtiː.fΙ™/Medium

Meaning: Lateefah is a phonetic spelling of Latifah, an Arabic name from latif, 'gentle, kind, subtle, pleasant.' Al-Latif, 'the Subtle, the Gentle,' is one of the traditional names of God in Islam, which gives the name a warm, reverent resonance. The -eefah spelling simply writes the long vowel out plainly.Medium

In 30 seconds: Lateefah is a spelling of Latifah, from Arabic latif, 'gentle, kind.' Its American visibility owes much to the entertainer Queen Latifah; this form crested around 1979.
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningLateefah is a phonetic spelling of Latifah, an Arabic name from latif, 'gentle, kind, subtle, pleasant.' Al-Latif, 'the Subtle, the Gentle,' is one of the traditional names of God in Islam, which gives the name a warm, reverent resonance. The -eefah spelling simply writes the long vowel out plainly.
U.S. rank (2006)#18809 β†˜ Falling
2006 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1979
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 617

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 197919712006

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

Lateefah carries a lovely Arabic meaning: latif is 'gentle, kind, pleasant,' and Al-Latif is one of the ninety-nine names of God, 'the Subtle and Gentle.' The name spread among American families in the seventies and eighties, part of a broader embrace of Arabic and Islamic names; this spelling writes the pronunciation out directly.

Its late-seventies crest places Lateefah in Generation X. While this exact spelling stayed rare, the name Latifah entered the mainstream through Queen Latifah β€” born Dana Owens β€” who chose the Arabic word as her stage name. The classic Latifah spelling remains the more familiar form today.

Did you know? Lateefah's small American arc runs from the early nineteen-seventies, cresting around 1979 at roughly five dozen girls a year. The name Latifah gained far wider recognition in the following decade through the rapper and actress Queen Latifah, whose stage name put the Arabic word before a national audience.
Overall data confidence 65%
References β€” Lateefah β€” spelling of Latifah, Arabic latif 'gentle/kind'; Queen Latifah popularized Latifah

Variations

LatifahLatifaLateefa

Nicknames

TeefahTifaLena

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Queen Latifah (1970–)
    American rapper, singer, and actress (born Dana Owens) whose stage name popularized the Arabic name Latifah.

If you like Lateefah…

Latifahβ€” the standard spelling of the same Arabic name
Aminahβ€” a like Arabic girl's name of the same era
Kadijahβ€” shares the phonetic -ah spelling and heritage
Lamiyahβ€” a fellow Arabic choice
Lamyahβ€” lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Lateefah

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lateefah mean?

Lateefah is a spelling of Latifah, from Arabic latif, 'gentle, kind, pleasant'; Al-Latif is one of the names of God in Islam.

How do you pronounce Lateefah?

It's said luh-TEE-fuh β€” three syllables, stress in the middle.

Is Lateefah a boy or girl name?

Lateefah is a girl's name.

Is Lateefah making a comeback?

This phonetic spelling stays rare, but the name Latifah is widely recognized thanks to Queen Latifah.

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