Ife
Ifẹ̀ is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria founded sometime between the years 1000 BC and 500 BC. By 900 AD, the city had become an important West African emporium producing sophisticated art forms. The city is located in present-day Osun State.
Meaning & Origin of Ife
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ifẹ̀ is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria founded sometime between the years 1000 BC and 500 BC. By 900 AD, the city had become an important West African emporium producing sophisticated art forms. The city is located in present-day Osun State.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Ife
Ife first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1970, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1977, when 16 Ifes were born — ranking #4,235 that year. As of 2026, Ife ranks #9,802 for baby girls with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 202 Ifes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Ife
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Adesoji Aderemi ; ( Atobatele I ) (1889-1980), 49th Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀
- Dele Momodu (born 1960), journalist
- Tunde Odunlade (born 1954), artist and musician
- Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi ; ( Ọjájá II ) (born 1974), 51st Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀
- Femi Fani-Kayode (born 1960), Nigerian politician, essayist, poet and lawyer
- Iyiola Omisore (born 1957), Nigerian businessman, engineer and politician
- Chief Remi Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode , Q.C. , SAN , CON
- Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II (1930–2015), 50th Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Ife
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ife is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Eif
- Iph
- Eiff
- Off
- If
- Eff
- Oaf
- Afe
- Aff
- Iff
- Eef
- Eph
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ife
What does the name Ife mean?
How popular is Ife in 2026?
When was Ife most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ife most popular?
Is Ife a unisex name?
What names go well with Ife?
About the name Ife
Ife is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1970 and has accumulated 202 births in the dataset. Ife's peak popularity came in 1977 when it ranked #4,235. Use the chart and map above to compare Ife's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1977 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.