Kiff as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kiff

What is the meaning of the name Kiff ?

The baby name Kiff is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kɪf/ (KIF).

Kiff is English in Origin.

Kiff is a brisk modern given name with roots in English and South African usage. As an English name, it likely arose from the surname Kiff or as a clipped, sharpened respelling of Cliff/Clifford (Old English clif, “slope, bank”). In South African English, kiff is positive slang meaning “excellent, cool,” via Afrikaans kief, ultimately from Arabic kayf “well‑being, pleasure.” These streams give Kiff a crisp sound and an upbeat, contemporary feel, making it a rare but lively choice.

Documented as a given name only since the late 20th century, Kiff remains uncommon and largely gender‑neutral. Occasional bearers use it as a nickname for Kiffin or, by sound association, for Clifford. Variant forms include Kif (single‑F), Kiffi, and the extended Kiffin; related spellings by sense or sound include Cliff and Kief. Meanings thus range from “cliff; steep slope” to “joy; good vibe,” allowing families to emphasize heritage, attitude, or both.

⚙ Kiff is a rare find. There are only 91 recorded uses of it in our data, from 17 countries.