Boy · Arabic · Muslim
Arif
عارفSay it AA-rif
Arif meaning
Arif (عارف) is a Muslim boy's name of Arabic origin.
Knowing; also patient
Arif (عارف) is the Arabic ʿārif, the active participle of ʿarafa, "he knew, he recognised", from the root ʿ-r-f. Lane treats it as a synonym of ʿarīf, "knowing", and records a second sense, "patient". The same root gives ʿirfān, "knowledge", which is the name Irfan. The Quran uses the verb in 5:83, of listeners whose eyes overflow with tears at the truth they recognise. Name lists today give Arif as "knowledgeable" or "wise", which stays close to the dictionary. Aarif, Aref and Arif are spellings of the same name, and it is used by Muslim families from the Arab world and Turkey to South Asia.
Source: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon (1863–93), Book I, Part 5, p. 2016 · entry ʿārif (عَارِفٌ), root ʿ-r-f · See the entry
In the Quran: 5:83 (ʿarafū (عَرَفُوا۟)) · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon, ʿārif (عَارِفٌ), p. 2016 · Quran 5:83
Spellings
Arif · Aarif