How popular is the baby name Latifah in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Latifah.

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Popularity of the baby name Latifah


Posts that mention the name Latifah

What gave the baby name Latifah a boost in the early 1990s?

Queen Latifah's album "All Hail the Queen" (1989).
Queen Latifah album

The name Latifah, which has been appearing the U.S. baby name data since the 1970s, saw a dramatic increase in usage in the early 1990s. It even reached the top 1,000 twice.

  • 1993: 73 baby girls named Latifah
  • 1992: 251 baby girls named Latifah [rank: 803rd]
  • 1991: 150 baby girls named Latifah
  • 1990: 300 baby girls named Latifah [rank: 702nd] – peak usage
  • 1989: 93 baby girls named Latifah
  • 1988: 8 baby girls named Latifah

(The spelling Latifa also saw peak usage in 1990, and the versions Latifha, Latiffa, and Latifia debuted that year as well.)

Why?

Because of socially conscious hip-hop artist Queen Latifah.

She rose to fame with the release of her debut album, All Hail the Queen, released in November of 1989. It spawned five singles, including “Ladies First” and “Come Into My House.” Her follow-up album, released in mid-1991, wasn’t as commercially successful but does account for the second spike in usage in 1992.

After her initial success as a rapper, Queen Latifah branched out into acting. One of her most memorable early roles was that of Khadijah James on the TV series Living Single (1993-1998).

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens in New Jersey in 1970. The “Latifah” part of her stage name — which she pronounces with a somewhat extended first syllable, “laatifah” — began as a childhood nickname:

Q: Did you choose it for yourself?

A: No, actually it was my cousin — well, sort of, I sort of chose it. We were going through the Muslim book of names when I was eight. My cousin Sharonda is Muslim, and so we came across Latifah, and I was like, “Oh, I like that.” She was like, “Yeah, I’m gonna give you that name. That name should be yours.” So, I kept it, ever since I was eight, through high school and whatever.

Queen Latifah was drawn specifically to the meaning of the Arabic name Latifah, which she has defined in various interviews using words like “delicate,” “sensitive,” “kind,” and “nice.” (The site Behind the Name defines the masculine version, Latif, as “gentle, kind.”)

What are your thoughts on name Latifah? (Do you like it more or less than the name Dana?)

Sources:

What popularized the baby name Alize in the 1990s?

Bottles of Alizé
Alizé

Passion fruit-flavored liqueur Alizé Gold Passion was introduced to the U.S. market in 1986.

The next year, the name Alize debuted in the U.S. baby name data, though it remained rare.

  • 1990: unlisted
  • 1989: 6 baby girls named Alize
  • 1988: unlisted
  • 1987: 5 baby girls named Alize [debut]
  • 1986: unlisted
  • 1985: unlisted

Usage of the name Alize picked up steam during the early 1990s, but it wasn’t until 1995 that the numbers really started climbing — increasing nearly sixfold for girls, and debuting impressively for boys:

Girls named AlizeBoys named Alize
1997274 [rank: 767th]53
1996282 [rank: 749th]44
199514330*
199424.
199312.
*Debut

Why?

A huge pop-culture push in the mid-1990s that popularized both the liqueur and the baby name.

Back when I first published this post in 2012, the Alizé website included the following explanation:

Alizé reached great heights with substantial features in music lyrics and videos. Alizé was mentioned in 30 top 10 singles from artists such as 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z & Queen Latifah.

Specifically, Alizé was mentioned by Tupac Shakur in “Thug Passion” (1996), by Notorious B.I.G. in “Juicy” (1994), by Jay-Z in “Can I Get A…” (1998), and by Queen Latifah in a popular remix of Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” (1994-ish).

The brand name Alizé comes from the French word alizé, the name of a local trade wind.

What are your thoughts on Alize as a personal name??

P.S. The baby name Adidas has a similar explanation: urban music popularizing a brand name as a baby name.

[Latest update: July 2022]

Baby names that reached the U.S. top 1,000 just twice

The following names ranked among the top 1,000 U.S. baby names just twice from 1880 through 2006:

Girl Names

  • Adriene (1962, 1967)
  • Agusta (1882, 1884)
  • Aili (1909, 1910)
  • Alcie (1880, 1886)
  • Alethea (1973, 1974)
  • Alexina (1881, 1882)
  • Almedia (1881, 1885)
  • Aloma (1942, 1943)
  • Alwina (1882, 1886)
  • Alys (1880, 1910)
  • Ama (1881, 1885)
  • Amalie (1881, 1883)
  • Amma (1881, 1887)
  • Anastacia (1880, 1896)
  • Angeles (2003, 2004)
  • Anie (1881, 1882)
  • Anona (1904, 1905)
  • Antonetta (1910, 1915)
  • Araminta (1880, 1884)
  • Ardath (1905, 1923)
  • Arkie (1883, 1889)
  • Arta (1881, 1884)
  • Ayesha (1979, 1982)
  • Bebe (1923, 1932)
  • Bertina (1882, 1893)
  • Bethann (1965, 1967)
  • Brigid (1965, 1966)
  • Brinda (1951, 1952)
  • Britny (1989, 1990)
  • Bryn (1999, 2004)
  • Carlota (1887, 1892)
  • Celie (1880, 1887)
  • Cena (1881, 1883)
  • Chaney (1880, 1888)
  • Channie (1884, 1885)
  • Chante (1977, 1993)
  • Charlotta (1880, 1884)
  • Chelsy (1991, 1992)
  • Cherelle (1986, 1989)
  • Cherilyn (1972, 1975)
  • Chimere (1980, 1981)
  • Ciarra (1995, 1997)
  • Cicely (1973, 1974)
  • Cielo (2000, 2001)
  • Ciji (1983, 1984)
  • Cinthia (1991, 1996)
  • Cleva (1884, 1885)
  • Clevie (1884, 1885)
  • Columbia (1882, 1893)
  • Consuela (1971, 1972)
  • Contina (1972, 1973)
  • Coralie (1880, 1929)
  • Cornie (1885, 1887)
  • Cressie (1889, 1899)
  • Crete (1881, 1882)
  • Cuba (1898, 1899)
  • Cyntha (1881, 1884)
  • Daja (1995, 1996)
  • Danyel (1974, 1976)
  • Danyell (1973, 1974)
  • Davante (1992, 1993)
  • Dawne (1962, 1965)
  • Deliah (1880, 1883)
  • Delinda (1964, 1965)
  • Dellia (1881, 1888)
  • Dorthey (1932, 1934)
  • Dossie (1881, 1885)
  • Echo (1983, 1984)
  • Edla (1882, 1889)
  • Ednah (1880, 1887)
  • Edra (1905, 1908)
  • Elana (1960, 1966)
  • Eleonore (1882, 1887)
  • Elfie (1883, 1888)
  • Elwanda (1921, 1922)
  • Epsie (1881, 1888)
  • Eris (1923, 1924)
  • Erykah (1997, 1998)
  • Estefany (1996, 2002)
  • Evelena (1885, 1910)
  • Ever (1893, 1901)
  • Farah (1976, 1977)
  • Flavia (1881, 1884)
  • Floretta (1908, 1916)
  • Franc (1882, 1883)
  • Francisqui (1883, 1892)
  • Georgeanna (1883, 1884)
  • Gidget (1966, 1967)
  • Glennis (1936, 1939)
  • Gracia (1880, 1887)
  • Gwyn (1961, 1962)
  • Hasel (1895, 1901)
  • Hennie (1882, 1883)
  • Hortensia (1927, 1928)
  • Ilo (1898, 1899)
  • Ingeborg (1901, 1905)
  • Ivonne (1992, 1993)
  • Jacquelynn (1943, 1947)
  • Jenniffer* (1972, 1973)
  • Jerilynn (1941, 1942)
  • Jesenia (1987, 1990)
  • Jinnie (1881, 1882)
  • Joell (1966, 1967)
  • Judyth (1941, 1944)
  • Kadijah (1993, 1994)
  • Kaleena (1982, 1983)
  • Kanisha (1990, 1991)
  • Kiarra (1999, 2000)
  • Kylene (1979, 1980)
  • Lakendra (1987, 1988)
  • Lalla (1885, 1888)
  • Lashunda (1977, 1980)
  • Lasonya (1971, 1972)
  • Latifah (1990, 1992)
  • Lavonda (1965, 1968)
  • Lavonia (1880, 1898)
  • Leafy (1893, 1894)
  • Leitha (1880, 1906)
  • Lempi (1899, 1904)
  • Leoma (1901, 1908)
  • Lesta (1883, 1892)
  • Lethia (1886, 1893)
  • Leyla (2005, 2006)
  • Liane (1959, 1969)
  • Lilianna (2005, 2006)
  • Liller (1880, 1885)
  • Lisbeth (2002, 2003)
  • Litha (1883, 1885)
  • Livia (2004, 2005)
  • Lorayne (1920, 1922)
  • Lorean (1901, 1920)
  • Loria (1961, 1962)
  • Loris (1935, 1936)
  • Louanna (1881, 1891)
  • Madora (1880, 1883)
  • Mahalia (1880, 1881)
  • Mallorie (1986, 1987)
  • Malorie (1986, 1987)
  • Manila (1898, 1899)
  • Maralyn (1936, 1938)
  • Margene (1929, 1935)
  • Margeret (1880, 1882)
  • Marget (1882, 1883)
  • Margrett (1885, 1888)
  • Margy (1929, 1930)
  • Markita (1984, 1985)
  • Marlana (1978, 1979)
  • Marlen (2000, 2003)
  • Marnita (1961, 1962)
  • Martika (1989, 1990)
  • Marylouise (1922, 1923)
  • Melony (1963, 1966)
  • Mena (1880, 1887)
  • Merrilee (1942, 1943)
  • Mila (1881, 2006)
  • Milda (1896, 1897)
  • Moesha (1996, 1997)
  • Mora (1881, 1887)
  • Myla (2005, 2006)
  • Naima (2005, 2006)
  • Nakita (1986, 1987)
  • Norita (1935, 1937)
  • Nyree (1973, 1975)
  • Nobie (1890, 1908)
  • Odette (1899, 1905)
  • Olinda (1893, 1895)
  • Oliva (1889, 1894)
  • Oneida (1919, 1922)
  • Opha (1887, 1897)
  • Orlena (1881, 1891)
  • Ota (1881, 1882)
  • Pamelia (1949, 1954)
  • Pearly (1884, 1904)
  • Pheobe (1885, 1889)
  • Porsche (1987, 1988)
  • Rafaela (1903, 1909)
  • Rennie (1880, 1885)
  • Rinda (1882, 1885)
  • Roena (1880, 1884)
  • Ruie (1884, 1886)
  • Salena (1977, 1995)
  • Sanjuana (1949, 1950)
  • Sebrina (1967, 1970)
  • Selah (2005, 2006)
  • Serina (1970, 1998)
  • Shanelle (1989, 1992)
  • Shanequa (1991, 1992)
  • Shaquita (1985, 1986)
  • Sharman (1949, 1950)
  • Shaunna (1978, 1979)
  • Shelvia (1937, 1938)
  • Sheyla (2001, 2006)
  • Shirl (1963, 1964)
  • Shirlie (1926, 1935)
  • Shona (1969, 1970)
  • Shyla (1999, 2006)
  • Siena (2005, 2006)
  • Signa (1890, 1892)
  • Soledad (1919, 1929)
  • Stephani (1987, 1989)
  • Tamya (2003, 2004)
  • Tayla (1998, 2006)
  • Tea (1997, 1998)
  • Thresa (1883, 1888)
  • Tinie (1881, 1885)
  • Tobi (1974, 1975)
  • Torrie (1976, 1977)
  • Toshiko (1919, 1923)
  • Valery (2005, 2006)
  • Velia (1929, 1930)
  • Vonetta (1973, 1974)
  • Wanita (1924, 1931)
  • Winter (1978, 1979)
  • Xena (1996, 1997)
  • Yahaira (2003, 2005)
  • Yuridia (2005, 2006)
  • Zana (1888, 1994)
  • Zara (2005, 2006)
  • Zhane (1994, 1995)

Boy Names

  • Abbott (1880, 1888)
  • Adron (1901, 1904)
  • Albertus (1880, 1883)
  • Alferd (1891, 1899)
  • Alfie (1967, 1968)
  • Amado (1883, 1932)
  • Ananias (1883, 1889)
  • Arnett (1893, 1897)
  • Atlas (1883, 1890)
  • Aurthur (1880, 1891)
  • Bayard (1882, 1884)
  • Bilal (1991, 2002)
  • Bjorn (1977, 1980)
  • Blas (1880, 1911)
  • Bryton (1994, 1995)
  • Burgess (1884, 1890)
  • Burrel (1884, 1889)
  • Captain (1883, 1887)
  • Cato (1880, 1891)
  • Ceasar (1883, 1900)
  • Chancey (1883, 1885)
  • Charls (1886, 1892)
  • Chauncy (1883, 1890)
  • Claudius (1890, 1893)
  • Clemon (1894, 1899)
  • Clide (1883, 1901)
  • Colie (1911, 1912)
  • Collis (1899, 1900)
  • Colon (1885, 1886)
  • Coolidge (1924, 1925)
  • Crockett (1880, 1883)
  • Darryn (1965, 1968)
  • Daulton (1994, 1997)
  • Dejon (1991, 1992)
  • Demian (1971, 1974)
  • Demonte (1993, 1994)
  • Desean (1991, 1994)
  • Desi (1956, 1970)
  • Dink (1883, 1892)
  • Dionicio (1882, 1887)
  • Dozier (1884, 1892)
  • Duff (1880, 1882)
  • Durell (1985, 1986)
  • Durrell (1985, 1986)
  • Dustan (1980, 1984)
  • Ebbie (1881, 1882)
  • Elick (1880, 1890)
  • Encarnacion (1892, 1895)
  • Ephram (1881, 1887)
  • Epifanio (1885, 1888)
  • Eustace (1882, 1885)
  • Everet (1897, 1905)
  • Ewin (1882, 1883)
  • Ferman (1886, 1893)
  • Fitzgerald (1964, 1965)
  • Flint (1959, 1960)
  • Florencio (1882, 1889)
  • Fredy (1993, 2005)
  • Fremont (1882, 1899)
  • Gaines (1882, 1885)
  • Gasper (1911, 1917)
  • Gennaro (1911, 1913)
  • Geoff (1962, 1969)
  • Gibson (1882, 1897)
  • Gorge (1880, 1900)
  • Grayling (1957, 1959)
  • Halbert (1881, 1907)
  • Hansel (1905, 1917)
  • Harl (1880, 1897)
  • Harrie (1880, 1890)
  • Hartley (1895, 1909)
  • Hartwell (1881, 1883)
  • Holmes (1880, 1903)
  • Horton (1888, 1895)
  • Hoy (1880, 1910)
  • Hurbert (1891, 1903)
  • Illya (1966, 1967)
  • Imanol (2001, 2006)
  • Ingram (1883, 1890)
  • Jarett (1997, 1998)
  • Jeb (1978, 1981)
  • Jerrad (1984, 1985)
  • Jerrel (1934, 1940)
  • Jessee (1880, 1887)
  • Jethro (1899, 1913)
  • Jobe (1882, 1887)
  • Jordi (1998, 1999)
  • Joshuah (1985, 1989)
  • Kanye (2004, 2005)
  • Kavon (2000, 2001)
  • Keenen (1990, 1991)
  • Kenji (1978, 1979)
  • Keshaun (2000, 2001)
  • Kiefer (1990, 1991)
  • Knox (1881, 1888)
  • Leandro (2005, 2006)
  • Lemmie (1900, 1903)
  • Levern (1954, 1955)
  • Lillard (1885, 1890)
  • Lindbergh (1927, 1928)
  • Linden (1943, 1947)
  • Linn (1882, 1891)
  • Lish (1889, 1893)
  • Littleton (1882, 1896)
  • Lydell (1977, 1978)
  • Macarthur (1942, 1943)
  • Mace (1883, 1902)
  • Makai (2005, 2006)
  • Mal (1880, 1883)
  • Mansfield (1890, 1909)
  • Manson (1886, 1892)
  • Messia (2005, 2006)
  • Michial (1950, 1954)
  • Mikhail (1988, 1990)
  • Minoru (1920, 1926)
  • Mustafa (2001, 2002)
  • Namon (1884, 1899)
  • Needham (1890, 1893)
  • Nile (1896, 1905)
  • Octavius (1987, 1991)
  • Olof (1883, 1891)
  • Orren (1880, 1886)
  • Ott (1882, 1891)
  • Ovid (1894, 1907)
  • Owens (1890, 1896)
  • Posey (1889, 1896)
  • Prentiss (1907, 1943)
  • Purl (1884, 1885)
  • Randolf (1953, 1955)
  • Ras (1890, 1891)
  • Rayfield (1904, 1906)
  • Reubin (1892, 1898)
  • Reynolds (1895, 1901)
  • Ridge (1988, 1989)
  • Rishi (2004, 2005)
  • Romello (1995, 1996)
  • Ruffus (1881, 1884)
  • Rustin (1979, 1980)
  • Saint (1896, 1897)
  • Severt (1882, 1896)
  • Shan (1968, 1969)
  • Sie (1888, 1890)
  • Sing (1890, 1905)
  • Tahj (1998, 1999)
  • Taj (1976, 1998)
  • Talan (2005, 2006)
  • Tandy (1883, 1899)
  • Tavion (1999, 2002)
  • Tayshaun (2004, 2005)
  • Terell (1985, 1986)
  • Theodis (1952, 1955)
  • Tilman (1881, 1884)
  • Toshio (1921, 1925)
  • Treyton (2002, 2003)
  • Tuan (1982, 1983)
  • Tyriq (1998, 1999)
  • Tyrus (1912, 1916)
  • Vander (1884, 1887)
  • Vashon (1973, 1974)
  • Vidal (1972, 1973)
  • Vinie (1885, 1895)
  • Waino (1904, 1909)
  • Wells (1881, 1886)
  • Wess (1883, 1890)
  • Wirt (1881, 1886)
  • Wood (1881, 1882)
  • Yaakov (1986, 1987)
  • Yehuda (2001, 2005)
  • Zaid (2003, 2004)

Which of the above do you like most? How about least?

P.S. Here’s a list of the names that reached the top 1,000 just once.