Lateefah
Lateefah Origin and Meaning
Lateefah is the feminine form of Latif, an Arabic name meaning 'gentle,' 'kind,' or 'pleasant.' The name derives from one of the 99 attributes of Allah in Islamic tradition - Al-Latif (The Gentle, The Subtle One). The name entered broader usage outside predominantly Muslim communities during the 20th century, particularly from the 1970s onward. The spelling 'Lateefah' represents a phonetic adaptation of the Arabic name to English orthography, with variants including Latifa, Lateefa, and Latifah. While never among the most common names in the United States, Lateefah has maintained consistent usage across diverse communities. The name gained some additional recognition through public figures such as the hip-hop artist Queen Latifah, though she uses the variant spelling. The name carries connotations of gentleness, kindness, and refinement based on its linguistic origins.