Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Sharif
BoyArabic· “noble, honorable”
- Meaning
- noble, honorable
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- shuh-REEF
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #10,512
- US babies 2025
- 7
- Best rank
- #962 (1977)
- Peak year
- 1980
Meaning and origin of Sharif
Sharif is an Arabic name that means “noble, honorable”.
Sharif is an Arabic name meaning "noble," "honorable" or "eminent." In Islamic tradition, sharif is also a title for descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson Hasan, and the Sharifs of Mecca ruled the holy city for centuries. As a given name, Sharif is used across the Muslim world. The Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, born Michel Shalhoub, took it as part of his stage name. It is said shuh-REEF, with the stress on the second syllable. Sharifa is the feminine form, and Sherif is the usual spelling in Egypt.
Popularity over time
Sharif first appears in US Social Security records in 1963. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 3 different years, starting in 1975. Its best national rank was #962 in 1977, and the most babies received it in 1980, when 82 were named Sharif. In 2025, 7 babies were named Sharif, and it ranked #10,512 nationally. That is 71% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,003 in 1980, #1,892 in 2000, #3,120 in 2010, and #10,512 in 2025. Of the 2,685 US boys named Sharif since records began, 25% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 643 babies. Since 2010, 348 more have been named Sharif.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Jeb, Demetric, Rustin, Jamarr, and Leopoldo.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Sharif is usually pronounced shuh-REEF, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-if”.
Middle names for Sharif
A few middle names that flow with Sharif: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sharif
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Lists that include Sharif
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sharif mean?
Sharif is an Arabic name that means “noble, honorable”.
What is the origin of the name Sharif?
Sharif has Arabic roots. Sharif is an Arabic name meaning "noble," "honorable" or "eminent." In Islamic tradition, sharif is also a title for descendants of the Prophet Muhammad through his grandson Hasan, and the Sharifs of Mecca ruled the holy city for centuries.
Is Sharif a popular name?
Not especially. Sharif ranked #10,512 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sharif a boy or girl name?
Sharif is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Sharif?
Sharif is usually pronounced shuh-REEF. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings