Home › Baby Names Directory › Safiyah

Safiyah

♀ Girl

Pronounced sah-FEE-yah /sɑˈfi.jɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic safiyya, 'pure, sincere; a close, chosen friend' — a wife of the ProphetHigh

In 30 seconds: Pure and dear: Safiyah is Arabic for 'pure, sincere; chosen friend' — borne by a wife of the Prophet. Devout, warm, and graceful.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighArabic

MeaningFrom Arabic safiyya, 'pure, sincere; a close, chosen friend' — a wife of the Prophet

U.S. rank (2025)#4648 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births30 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 799

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Safiyah comes from Arabic safiyya, 'pure, sincere; a close, chosen friend'. Borne by Safiyya, a wife of the Prophet, it's a beloved, graceful name across the Muslim world.

In the U.S. it appears in Muslim families. Rare, pure-and-chosen at the root, and warm.

Did you know? Safiyya bint Huyayy was a wife of the Prophet Muhammad — her name means 'pure, sincere, a close chosen friend'; Safiyah is a common spelling.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Safiyya — etymology

Variations

SafiyyahSafiyaSafia

Nicknames

Safi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Safiyah…

Safiya— a fellow spelling

Safiyyah— the doubled-y spelling

Safia— a companion spelling

Sumaya— another honored early-Islamic name

Explore names like Safiyah

By themearabic virtue islamic

By meaningPurity Truth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Safiyah mean?

Safiyah is Arabic for 'pure, sincere; a close, chosen friend'.

How do you pronounce Safiyah?

It's said sah-FEE-yah /sɑˈfi.jɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Safiyah a boy or girl name?

Safiyah is a girl's name.

How popular is Safiyah?

Safiyah is a rare name in the U.S.