Shareef is a name of Arabic origin, meaning "noble" or "illustrious". It comes from the root word "sharifa", which means "nobility" or "aristocracy". The name Shareef is often associated with the Arab world and has been used traditionally among Muslim families.
The name Shareef gained prominence during the Islamic Golden Age, a period of significant cultural, economic, and intellectual progress that spanned the 8th to the 14th centuries. During this time, many notable figures carried the name Shareef, including Shareef al-Din Yahya, a prominent scholar and historian from Yemen.
In recent times, the name Shareef has become more widely recognized in the Western world due to its use by celebrities such as Shareef Jackson, son of actor Samuel L. Jackson, and Shareef O'Neal, son of retired basketball player Shaquille O'Neal. Despite this increased visibility, however, Shareef remains a relatively uncommon name outside of the Arab world.
Overall, Shareef is an ancient and noble name with deep historical roots in the Arab world. Its meaning, "noble" or "illustrious", makes it an attractive choice for parents looking for a strong and meaningful name for their child.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Shareef has seen a fluctuating trend in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. The name first started to appear with some frequency in 1974, with 14 births recorded that year. This number increased steadily until it peaked at 53 births in 1997.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a decline in the popularity of the name Shareef, with the total number of births per year dropping from a high of 47 in 1996 to a low of 8 in 2022. However, it is worth noting that even during the most recent years, there have still been a small number of babies named Shareef each year, indicating that the name continues to be chosen by some parents.
Overall, based on the available data, a total of 1,180 births with the name Shareef were recorded in the United States between 1974 and 2023. While the popularity of the name has ebbed and flowed over time, it remains a recognizable and distinct name choice for parents.