Rabaab
An Arabic feminine name meaning "stringed musical instrument" or "lute".
Name Census estimates that about 27 living Americans carry the first name Rabaab. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 77.8% of registrations being female. The average person named Rabaab today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rabaab births was 2023 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rabaab. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Rabaab with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rabaab. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
27
~ 1 in 12,694,605 Americans
Peak year
2023
13 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,865
Tracked since 2022
Gender
Gender distribution for Rabaab
Rabaab is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 27 total registrations, 6 (22.2%) were male and 21 (77.8%) were female.
Rabaab as a male name
- Ranked #11,912 in 2023
- 6 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2023 (6 births)
Rabaab as a female name
- Ranked #10,865 in 2024
- 9 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (9 births)
Popularity
Rabaab: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Rabaab by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Rabaab during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 6 | 21 | 27 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Rabaab
The name Rabaab finds its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "rabab," which refers to a stringed instrument similar to a lyre or rebec, known for its rich, melodic tones.
This name's connection to music and the arts stems from its linguistic roots, suggesting a deep appreciation for the arts and creative expression among those who bore this name in ancient times. The rabab instrument held significant cultural importance in the Middle East and was often played during poetic recitations, storytelling, and celebrations.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Rabaab can be found in medieval Arabic poetry, where it was used as a metaphor to describe the enchanting melodies and rhythm of verse. Poets would liken the flow and cadence of their compositions to the captivating strings of the rabab, evoking a sense of artistic beauty and harmony.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Rabaab. One such figure was Rabaab al-Qadiri (930-1025 CE), a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Baghdad. Her spiritual teachings and literary works influenced generations of Islamic thinkers and philosophers.
Another prominent bearer of this name was Rabaab al-Adawiyya (718-801 CE), a revered female saint and mystic from Basra, Iraq. She was known for her wisdom, piety, and profound spiritual insights, which earned her a dedicated following during her lifetime.
In the realm of literature, Rabaab al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE) was a celebrated poet and writer from Persia. Her poetic works were highly regarded for their elegance, depth, and mastery of the Arabic language, earning her a place among the literary greats of her time.
The name Rabaab also found its way into the annals of Islamic jurisprudence with Rabaab bint Imra'a al-Qays (640-720 CE), a renowned scholar and jurist from Medina. Her expertise in Islamic law and her contributions to legal discourse were highly respected among her contemporaries.
Lastly, Rabaab al-Mawsiliyya (900-980 CE) was a legendary musician and singer from Mosul, Iraq. Her exceptional talent and mastery of the rabab instrument earned her widespread acclaim, and she is often cited as one of the greatest musicians of her era.
These historical figures, spanning various fields and time periods, exemplify the rich heritage and cultural significance associated with the name Rabaab, reflecting its deep-rooted ties to artistic expression, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits.
People
Rabaab + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rabaab as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rabaab: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rabaab?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 27 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rabaab going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 12,694,605 US residents.
Is Rabaab a common name?
We classify Rabaab as "Very Rare". It ranks above 44.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 27 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rabaab most popular?
The single biggest year for Rabaab was 2023, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rabaab is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Rabaab in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rabaab a female name?
Yes, 77.8% of people registered as Rabaab in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Rabaab still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rabaab in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Rabaab can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Rabaab?
Find out how many Americans are named Rabaab on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.