Rasheedah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "rightly guided" or "righteous woman".
Name Census estimates that about 867 living Americans carry the first name Rasheedah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rasheedah today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rasheedah births was 1978 (112 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rasheedah. 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
867
~ 1 in 395,334 Americans
Peak year
1978
112 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2004 SSA rank
#15,640
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Rasheedah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rasheedah from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 394 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rasheedah 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 Rasheedah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rasheedahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California recorded the most babies named Rasheedah, while Virginia, Ohio, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 37 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rasheedah
The name Rasheedah is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "rashada," which means "to be guided" or "to follow the right path." It is a feminine form of the name "Rashid," which is a common name among Muslims.
In Arabic culture, names often carry significant meaning and are chosen with great care. The name Rasheedah is believed to reflect the qualities of righteousness, wisdom, and being well-guided in one's life.
While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, it is thought to have been in use since the early days of Islam. Some historical references suggest that the name may have been mentioned in ancient Arabic texts or religious scriptures, although specific examples are not widely documented.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rasheedah can be found in the writings of the renowned Muslim scholar and historian, Ibn Khaldun, who lived in the 14th century. He mentioned a woman named Rasheedah bint al-Qadi, who was known for her piety and knowledge.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rasheedah. One such figure was Rasheedah al-Baghdadiyah (1228-1285), a renowned Arab poet and scholar from Baghdad. She was highly respected for her contributions to literature and Islamic studies.
Another notable Rasheedah was Rasheedah Ismail Khan (1793-1860), a prominent Indian poet and writer who composed works in Urdu and Persian languages. Her literary works were widely acclaimed and influential during her time.
In the 20th century, Rasheedah Ingram (1929-2022) was an American civil rights activist and educator. She played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement and worked tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for African American children.
Rasheedah Salters (born 1967) is a contemporary American author and spoken word artist. Her poetry and literary works explore themes of identity, culture, and social justice, earning her recognition and awards within the literary community.
Rasheedah El-Amin (born 1954) is an American fashion designer and entrepreneur, known for her elegant and culturally inspired clothing line catering to Muslim women. Her designs have been celebrated for their fusion of modesty and style.
People
Rasheedah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rasheedah 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
Rasheedah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rasheedah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 867 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rasheedah 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 395,334 US residents.
Is Rasheedah a common name?
We classify Rasheedah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 930 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rasheedah most popular?
The single biggest year for Rasheedah was 1978, when 112 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rasheedah is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rasheedah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rasheedah 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.