nafis

Nafis is a name used in several Muslim-majority regions, typically as a masculine given name in Arabic contexts and as part of compound names in South Asia and the Middle East. It originates from the Arabic adjective nafīs, meaning delicate, refined, or precious, and it carries connotations of value and quality. The name is also found in Persian and Urdu usage with the same sense.

Common transliterations include Nafis, Nafees, and Nafis, with less common variants such as Nafess or Naffis. In Arabic, the root is written نفیس. The feminine form Nafisa (نفيسة) is widely used in many of the same regions and shares the same meaning.

Usage and distribution: The name is used across Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, and other Muslim communities. It appears as a given name and, less commonly, as a surname. It may also occur as part of longer names, such as Nafisuddin or Nafeesuddin, while the standalone form remains the most common.

Notable individuals bearing the name have been reported in a range of fields, including science, politics, literature, and the arts, reflecting the name's wide geographic and cultural reach.

Related forms: The feminine form Nafisa (نفيسة) is widely used, and other related cognates vary by language.