Boy · Arabic · Muslim
Rafi
رفیعSay it ra-FEE
- Meaning
- High, exalted, eminent in rank; noble Lane, p. 1124
- Say it
- ra-FEE
- Written
- رفیع
- Other spellings
- Rafee, Rafiy
Rafi
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Rafi meaning
Rafi (رفیع) is a Muslim boy's name of Arabic origin.
High, exalted, eminent in rank; noble
Rafi (رفیع) is the Arabic rafīʿ, from rafaʿa, "to raise". Lane's lexicon defines it as high, elevated or exalted in rank or condition, and so noble and honourable, and notes the Quranic phrase rafīʿ al-darajāt, "exalted in degrees", used of God (40:15). Name lists give Rafi as "exalted" or "noble". In India the name is inseparable from Mohammed Rafi, the playback singer whose voice defined Hindi film song for three decades. A related name, Raafi (رافع), "one who raises", is a different form from the same root.
Source: Lane, An Arabic–English Lexicon (1863–93), p. 1124 · entry rafīʿ (رَفِيعٌ), root r-f-ʿ · See the entry
In the Quran: 40:15 (rafīʿ (رَفِيعُ)) · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Lane, Arabic–English Lexicon, rafīʿ, rāfiʿ, p. 1124 · Quran 40:15 · Wikipedia, Mohammed Rafi
Famous namesakes
- Mohammed Rafi, Hindi film playback singer
Popularity abroad
- #507 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Rafi · Rafee · Rafiy