Safiya is a girl name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Safiya means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Safiya across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Safiya has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Safiya is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “pure, sincere friend”. A respelling of Safiyya, borne by a wife of the Prophet Muhammad.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 2,831 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 1,924 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 6 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 4 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 15 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Safiya per year, United States (1973 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (168/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2011 (96/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2014 (4/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 2012 (4/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2012 (3/yr).
Safiya is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #2,490 nationally (given to 259 babies that year).
Sofia · Sofie · Safa · Saif · Zofia · Sofiya · Safia · Sophya
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