Find out how popular the first name Raheel has been for the last 42 years (from 1982 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Raheel by gender

Based on the last 42 years of data, Raheel is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 80% of people named Raheel being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 12 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Raheel.

It's also interesting to see that despite Raheel being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2023 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Raheel.

The history of the first name Raheel

The name Raheel is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the word "raheel," which means "traveler" or "one who travels." The name can be traced back to the early days of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language and culture across various regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Raheel can be found in historical texts from the 7th century AD, during the time of the Islamic conquests. It is said that Raheel was the name of a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, who played a significant role in the early Muslim community.

In the centuries that followed, the name Raheel gained popularity among Muslim communities across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. It was particularly prevalent in areas where Arabic was the predominant language or had a strong cultural influence.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Raheel. One of the most famous was Raheel Sharif (1956-2022), a former four-star general and the 16th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. He served in this role from 2013 to 2016 and was widely respected for his leadership and contributions to the country's armed forces.

Another prominent figure with the name Raheel was Raheel Raza (born 1950), a Pakistani-Canadian journalist, author, and human rights activist. She has been a vocal advocate for women's rights, secularism, and countering extremism, and has received numerous awards for her work.

In the realm of academia, Raheel Qamar (born 1964) is a notable Pakistani physicist and academic. He is currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar and has made significant contributions to the fields of theoretical and mathematical physics.

The name Raheel has also been associated with sports, with Raheel Siddique (born 1984) being a former Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team in the early 2000s.

Lastly, Raheel Sharif (born 1958), a different individual from the former army chief, is a Pakistani-American writer and academic. He is the author of several books on Islam and has taught at various universities in the United States.

While the name Raheel has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended cultural boundaries and can be found among diverse communities around the world today.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Raheel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Raheel, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!