Find out how popular the last name Rani is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rani.

Rani, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rani surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rani in America

Rani is the 19189th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rani surname appeared 1,415 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rani.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rani to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rani

The surname "Rani" has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Rani," which means "queen" or "princess." The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period when it was commonly used as a title for the wives or consorts of rulers and noblemen.

In ancient Indian texts and manuscripts, such as the Puranas and epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the term "Rani" is frequently mentioned in reference to the wives of kings and princes. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the famous Sanskrit play "Abhijñānaśākuntalam" (The Recognition of Shakuntala) by the renowned poet Kalidasa, who lived in the 4th-5th century CE.

The name "Rani" has also been associated with several historical figures throughout India's rich history. One notable example is Rani Avanti Bai, the queen of the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who lived in the 17th century. Another famous bearer of the name was Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a prominent figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company.

During the medieval and early modern periods, the surname "Rani" was often adopted by families with royal or noble lineages, particularly in the northern regions of India. This practice was not uncommon, as surnames were often derived from titles, occupations, or personal characteristics.

In more recent times, the name "Rani" has been associated with several influential individuals, such as Rani Hazarika (1904-1947), a renowned Assamese poet and writer, and Rani Mukerji (born 1978), a prominent Indian actress who has received numerous accolades for her work in Bollywood films.

While the surname "Rani" is predominantly found in the Indian subcontinent, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange. Regardless of its geographic location, the name continues to carry a sense of regal and noble connotations, reflecting its rich historical and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rani

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rani.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rani was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rani has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Rani was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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