Ruhani
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "spiritual" or "soulful".
Name Census estimates that about 230 living Americans carry the first name Ruhani. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ruhani today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ruhani births was 2024 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ruhani. 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
230
~ 1 in 1,490,236 Americans
Peak year
2024
26 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,106
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Ruhani: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ruhani from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 122 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Ruhani remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruhani 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 Ruhani during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ruhanis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ruhani
The name Ruhani is of Persian origin, derived from the Arabic word "ruh" meaning "soul" or "spirit." It is a feminine name that has been used for centuries in the Middle East and parts of South Asia.
In Islamic tradition, the word "ruh" holds deep spiritual significance, representing the divine essence breathed into human beings by God. The name Ruhani, therefore, carries a connotation of purity, spirituality, and a connection to the divine.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruhani can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was mentioned in the writings of the renowned Persian poet and mystic, Rumi. In his poetic masterpiece, the Masnavi, Rumi referred to the concept of "Ruhani" as the spiritual essence that transcends the physical realm.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ruhani. One such person was Ruhani Begum (1611-1671), a Mughal princess and the daughter of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. She was known for her patronage of arts and literature, and her influence in the royal court during the reign of her brother, Shah Jahan.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Ruhani Bai (1856-1924), an Indian classical singer and courtesan from the city of Jaipur. She was renowned for her mastery of the Khyal genre of Hindustani classical music and her contributions to the preservation of Indian cultural heritage.
In the 20th century, Ruhani Lal Khanna (1903-1983) was an Indian politician and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the country's independence movement. He served as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 1957 to 1962.
More recently, Ruhani Rahman (born 1953) is a prominent Bangladeshi singer and composer who has made significant contributions to the musical landscape of her country. She is known for her soulful renditions of Sufi and folk songs, as well as her efforts in promoting the music of Bangladesh globally.
Ruhani Kaur (born 1994) is a contemporary Indian singer and actress from Punjab. She has gained popularity for her work in Punjabi films and her collaborations with various music producers, showcasing her versatility as an artist.
The name Ruhani continues to be a popular choice among families in various parts of the world, particularly in regions where Persian and Arabic influences have been prevalent. Its deep spiritual connotations and historical significance make it a meaningful and timeless name.
People
Ruhani + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ruhani 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
Ruhani: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ruhani?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 230 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ruhani 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 1,490,236 US residents.
Is Ruhani a common name?
We classify Ruhani as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 232 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ruhani most popular?
The single biggest year for Ruhani was 2024, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ruhani is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ruhani a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ruhani 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.