Arif
/ˈɑːrɪf/noun
A masculine given name of Arabic origin meaning knowledgeable, wise, or spiritually discerning.
Did you know?In Sufi vocabulary, an ʿārif is someone associated with maʿrifa, an experiential form of spiritual knowledge or inner recognition of the divine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ʿ-r-f
“To know, recognize, or perceive through familiarity”
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
ʿarafa
“He knew, recognized, or became acquainted with”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ʿārif
“A person who knows; knowledgeable or learned”
Medieval Islamic usage
Arabic
ʿārif
“A spiritually discerning person, especially one possessing maʿrifa, experiential knowledge”
Ottoman Turkish
Turkish
Ârif
“Wise, learned, or perceptive; also used as a male given name”
Modern English
English
Arif
“A personal name used internationally, retaining the Arabic sense of wisdom or knowledge”