Rukiya first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rukiya has been for the last 49 years (from 1974 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rukiya

A feminine Arabic name meaning "high born" or "exalted".

Popularity of Rukiya by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Rukiya is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 10 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rukiya.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 0 10
2020 0 5
2018 0 8
2012 0 8
2009 0 5
2008 0 5
2007 0 6
2004 0 11
2001 0 10
1999 0 8
1997 0 8
1996 0 9
1995 0 9
1994 0 7
1992 0 7
1991 0 8
1990 0 9
1989 0 6
1988 0 6
1986 0 5
1985 0 5
1984 0 6
1983 0 11
1981 0 12
1980 0 14
1979 0 16
1978 0 15
1977 0 14
1976 0 20
1975 0 16
1974 0 20

The history of the first name Rukiya

The given name Rukiya has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "raki'a," which means "the sky" or "the firmament." This name has been in use for centuries and has a rich history tied to the Arabic and Islamic cultures.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Rukiya can be traced back to the 7th century, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. In Islamic tradition, Rukiya was the name of one of the Prophet's wives, considered one of the "Mothers of the Believers." Her full name was Rukiya bint Zayd ibn 'Amr ibn Nufayl, and she lived from around 594 to 624 CE.

Another notable figure in history with the name Rukiya was Rukiya Begum, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1658 to 1707. Rukiya Begum played a significant role in the Mughal court and was known for her philanthropy and patronage of various cultural and educational institutions.

In the 9th century, a renowned female scholar and poet named Rukiya bint Al-Munadhar Al-Qurashiya gained recognition for her contributions to Arabic literature. She lived in present-day Iraq and was celebrated for her mastery of the Arabic language and her poetic works.

During the Mamluk period in Egypt, which spanned from the 13th to the 16th centuries, there was a notable figure named Rukiya Khawand, who served as the chief administrative officer (Dawadari) of the Mamluk Sultanate. She held this influential position during the reign of Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil, demonstrating the important role women played in the Mamluk administration.

In the 19th century, Rukiya Al-Sayyid was a prominent Egyptian feminist and activist who advocated for women's rights and education. She founded one of the first schools for girls in Cairo and played a crucial role in promoting the emancipation of women in Egypt during that time period.

The name Rukiya has maintained its popularity among Arabic-speaking communities and has been adopted by various cultures around the world. It has been associated with beauty, grace, and a connection to the celestial realm, reflecting the meaning of its Arabic root.

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 Rukiya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Rukiya first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 22, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rukiya-meaning-and-history/.

"Rukiya first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rukiya-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 22 June, 2025

Rukiya first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rukiya-meaning-and-history/.

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