Ruwayda
A feminine Arabic name meaning "small garden" or "meadow".
Name Census estimates that about 170 living Americans carry the first name Ruwayda. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ruwayda today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ruwayda births was 2017 (19 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ruwayda. 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
170
~ 1 in 2,016,202 Americans
Peak year
2017
19 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,897
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Ruwayda: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ruwayda 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 114 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruwayda 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 Ruwayda during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ruwaydas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ruwayda
Ruwayda is a feminine given name of Arabic origin. It is derived from the Arabic root word "rawd," which means "garden" or "meadow." The name is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the early Islamic era, around the 7th century CE.
The name Ruwayda may have been inspired by the beautiful gardens and oases that dotted the desert landscapes of the region. It evokes a sense of tranquility, beauty, and natural splendor. The name was likely given to girls as a wish for them to possess the grace and delicacy associated with a lush garden.
In Islamic tradition, the word "rawd" is also used to refer to the gardens of Paradise, as mentioned in the Quran. This connection may have contributed to the name's popularity among Muslim communities, as it symbolized the eternal bliss and serenity promised to the righteous in the afterlife.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ruwayda can be found in the writings of medieval Arab scholars and poets. Ibn Qutaybah, a renowned Islamic scholar who lived in the 9th century CE, mentioned a woman named Ruwayda in his literary work, "Al-Ma'arif."
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Ruwayda. One of the most famous was Ruwayda bint Al-Mudhaffar (born c. 1120 CE), a prominent Andalusian poet and literary figure from the Almoravid dynasty in Spain. Her poetry celebrated the beauty of nature and the joys of love.
Another notable Ruwayda was Ruwayda Al-Ashqar (1940-2014), a Palestinian writer and advocate for women's rights. She authored several books and played a significant role in raising awareness about the struggles of Palestinian women under Israeli occupation.
In the modern era, Ruwayda Al-Zahid (born 1949) is a prominent Saudi Arabian businesswoman and philanthropist. She has been recognized for her contributions to various humanitarian causes and her efforts to empower women in the Middle East.
Ruwayda Al-Karaji (born 1975) is an Iraqi-American engineer and entrepreneur. She co-founded a successful technology company and has been praised for her innovative work in the field of artificial intelligence.
Despite its historical roots, the name Ruwayda has transcended cultural boundaries and is found among women of diverse backgrounds around the world today, reflecting its universal appeal and the timeless beauty it embodies.
People
Ruwayda + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ruwayda 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
Ruwayda: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ruwayda?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 170 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ruwayda 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 2,016,202 US residents.
Is Ruwayda a common name?
We classify Ruwayda as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 172 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ruwayda most popular?
The single biggest year for Ruwayda was 2017, when 19 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ruwayda is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ruwayda a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ruwayda 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.