Safiyya
/səˈfiː.jə/noun
A feminine Arabic given name traditionally interpreted as meaning “pure,” “chosen,” or “close friend.”
Did you know?Safiyya bint Huyayy was one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad, making the name especially significant in Islamic history.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
ṣ-p-w
“A reconstructed root associated with purity, clearness, or being selected; the exact reconstruction is debated.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ṣafā (صفا)
“To be clear or pure; to become free from impurity.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ṣafiyy (صَفِيّ)
“Pure, chosen, select, or an intimate friend.”
7th Century
Arabic
Ṣafiyya (صفية)
“A feminine form meaning “pure,” “chosen,” or “close friend”; borne by Ṣafiyya bint Huyayy.”
Modern English
English
Safiyya
“A transliterated Arabic feminine given name, also spelled Safiya or Safiyyah.”