Rabab
An Arabic feminine name referring to a musical instrument.
Name Census estimates that about 158 living Americans carry the first name Rabab. It is a predominantly female name (95.0% of registrations). The average person named Rabab today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rabab births was 2024 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rabab. 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.
People living today
158
~ 1 in 2,169,331 Americans
Peak year
2024
20 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,810
Tracked since 1982
Gender
Gender distribution for Rabab
Rabab leans heavily female at 95.0% of total registrations, but 8 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Rabab as a male name
- Ranked #9,635 in 2024
- 8 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (8 births)
Rabab as a female name
- Ranked #8,810 in 2024
- 12 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (13 births)
Popularity
Rabab: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rabab from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 50 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rabab 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 Rabab during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rababs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Rabab
The name Rabab has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "rababa," which refers to a stringed instrument similar to a lute or a rebec. The word "rababa" itself is believed to have come from the Aramaic word "rabbath," meaning "to speak or chant."
In Arabic culture, the rabab was an important musical instrument used in various forms of traditional music and poetry recitation. As such, the name Rabab may have been given to girls in hopes that they would possess the grace and beauty associated with music and poetry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rabab can be found in the work of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher Al-Mutanabbi, who lived in the 10th century CE. In his poem "Al-Rabab," he personifies the musical instrument as a beloved companion, suggesting that the name was already in use during that time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rabab. One of the most famous was Rabab Adawiya (1244-1321 CE), a renowned Sufi saint and mystic from Baghdad. She was known for her profound spiritual teachings and her devotion to the Sufi way of life.
Another notable figure was Rabab Husayn (1914-2016), an Egyptian feminist and activist who played a significant role in the women's rights movement in her country. She was also a prolific writer and scholar, authoring several books on women's issues and Islamic feminism.
In the realm of literature, Rabab Naji (1920-2008) was a renowned Palestinian writer and poet. Her works often explored themes of exile, displacement, and the struggle for Palestinian independence. She is considered one of the most influential voices in modern Arabic literature.
The name Rabab has also been carried by notable figures in the field of music. Rabab Hashim (1919-2005) was a celebrated Egyptian singer and actress, known for her contributions to the Golden Age of Egyptian cinema and music.
Lastly, Rabab Fatima (1958-2014) was a prominent Bangladeshi diplomat and human rights activist. She served as Bangladesh's ambassador to several countries and was actively involved in promoting women's rights and empowerment.
People
Rabab + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rabab 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
Rabab: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rabab?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 158 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rabab 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 2,169,331 US residents.
Is Rabab a common name?
We classify Rabab as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 161 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rabab most popular?
The single biggest year for Rabab was 2024, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rabab is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rabab a female name?
Yes, 95.0% of people registered as Rabab 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.
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.