Rewa
A name of Indian origin meaning "sand" or "river".
Name Census estimates that about 148 living Americans carry the first name Rewa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rewa today is around 40 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rewa births was 1971 (57 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rewa. 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
148
~ 1 in 2,315,908 Americans
Peak year
1971
57 babies that year
Average age
40
years old
2022 SSA rank
#14,919
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Rewa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rewa from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 107 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
Rewa 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 Rewa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rewas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Rewa, while North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 5 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rewa
The name Rewa is of ancient Indian origin, with its roots traced back to Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "reva," which means "stream" or "river." This connection to nature and flowing waters may have contributed to the name's early adoption and popularity in the Indian subcontinent.
In Hindu mythology, the name Rewa holds significance as it is associated with the River Narmada, also known as Rewa or Reva, which is considered a sacred river in India. This river is revered in Hindu scriptures and has been mentioned in ancient texts such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rewa can be found in the Gupta Empire, which ruled over northern and central India between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. During this period, the city of Rewa, located in the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh, was an important cultural and economic center.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rewa. One such figure was Rewa Khetri (1556-1628), a Rajput warrior and chieftain who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Mughal Empire and the local rulers of Rajasthan.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Rewa Shankar Bahadur (1778-1828), a Maratha ruler who governed the princely state of Rewa in central India during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is remembered for his efforts in promoting education and cultural development in the region.
In more recent times, Rewa Khator (born 1956) is a renowned Indian-American academic and university administrator. She currently serves as the president of the University of Houston, one of the largest public research universities in the United States.
Rewa Zaidee (1926-2006) was a prominent Malaysian writer and activist. She was known for her contributions to Malay literature and her advocacy for women's rights and social justice.
Rewa Karaluvinna (born 1968) is a Sri Lankan musician and composer who has gained recognition for his work in preserving and promoting traditional Sri Lankan music. He has received several awards and honors for his contributions to the country's cultural heritage.
These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals who have carried the name Rewa throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.
People
Rewa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rewa 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
Rewa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rewa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 148 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rewa 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 2,315,908 US residents.
Is Rewa a common name?
We classify Rewa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.1% 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 Rewa most popular?
The single biggest year for Rewa was 1971, when 57 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rewa is about 40 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rewa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rewa 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.