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I'd like to know the origin of the female name Xarifa. It comes from the 15th century Spanish ballad "The Bridal of Andalla" (the English translation is by John Gibson Lockhart). Xarifa in the song is a "Moorish maiden."
Beatrix Potter also had a pet mouse named Xarifa, and was a character in her book The Fairy Caravan.
Beatrix Potter also had a pet mouse named Xarifa, and was a character in her book The Fairy Caravan.
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Xarifa (pronouncd Kharifa) is Arabic/Moorish for female verison of "a knowing person" or "a learned/educated person". Xarif/Kharif would be for a male
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It actually sounds like Zarifa to me, which is a valid Arab (read: Moorish) name.
Zarifa apparently isn't on the database here, but it is an attribute name; I couldn't tell you how long it has been used as a name, but it is an adjective both in masculine (Zarif) and feminine form.
ETA more info.
Zarifa apparently isn't on the database here, but it is an attribute name; I couldn't tell you how long it has been used as a name, but it is an adjective both in masculine (Zarif) and feminine form.
ETA more info.
This message was edited 4/1/2008, 5:23 PM
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In Spain back in the time of the Andalus, X was pronounced as Ch. Some The original name Is Charifa. An arabic which means noble. For a male it's Charif.
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My first instinct would be a form of Sharifa, particularly given that the literary Xarifa is Moorish, but I'll have to leave it to someone else to tell me if I'm entirely off.
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