Safiyyah

Meaning of Safiyyah

Safiyyah is a feminine given name of Arabic provenance, derived from the triliteral root ṣ-f-y and denoting purity, sincerity and the notion of the “chosen one”; it is historically anchored in the personage of Ṣafiyyah bint Ḥuyayy, a Companion of the Prophet Muhammad whose esteemed role in early Islamic sources imparts to the name enduring associations of nobility and devotion. In Modern Standard Arabic it is articulated as /sɑˈfi.ja/, conforming to the language’s canonical vowel and consonant patterns. Within the United States, Safiyyah has maintained a modest yet consistent presence in the Social Security Administration’s annual name rankings since the late 1970s, most recently securing rank 916 with 34 recorded births in 2024—an indication of its gradual integration into the Anglo-American naming landscape and a reflection of growing appreciation for Arabic onomastic heritage.

Pronunciation

Arabic

• Pronunced as sah-FEE-yah (/sɑˈfi.ja/)

• Safia
• Safiya
• Saffiyah
• Safiyya
• Safiye