The first name Arif
A boy’s name.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 17 boys were named Arif, making it the 1,538th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2006, with 34 births (#748).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Arif with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Arif at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 10 boys born in the United States were named Arif, the 7,717th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2007, when 21 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Arif
12 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Arif Alvi13th President of Pakistan from 2018 to 2024
- Arif BabayevAzerbaijani singer (1938–2025)
- Arif Mohammad KhanFormer governor of Bihar, born 1951
- Arif AsadovAzerbaijani footballer, born 1970
- Arif PashayevAzerbaijani scientist, born 1934
- Arif YunusAzerbaijani writer, born 1955
- Arifur RahmanBangladeshi-Norwegian political cartoonist, illustrator and animator, born 1984
- Arif HeralićBosnian Roma metal worker, 1922–1971
- Arif HajiliAzerbaijani politician, born 1962
- Arif ViraniCanadian politician, born 1971
- Arif RiwgariCentral Asian Sufi teacher, 1156–1219
- Aref GholamiAssociation football player, born 1997
Questions
- How popular is the name Arif?
- In 2025, 17 boys born in England and Wales were named Arif, ranking 1,538th. Its peak was 2006, with 34 births.
- Is Arif a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 714 US babies named Arif since 1880 were boys.
- When was Arif most popular?
- 2007 in the United States, when 21 babies were named Arif, its highest rank at 4,508th.
- Is Arif also a surname?
- Yes. Arif is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.