Rani
Rani is a female title, equivalent to queen, for royal or princely rulers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It translates to 'queen' in English. It is also a Sanskrit Hindu feminine given name. The term applies equally to a queen regnant as well as a wife of a Raja/Rai or Rana
Meaning & Origin of Rani
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rani is a female title, equivalent to queen, for royal or princely rulers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It translates to 'queen' in English. It is also a Sanskrit Hindu feminine given name. The term applies equally to a queen regnant as well as a wife of a Raja/Rai or Rana
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Rani
As a girl name
Rani first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1946, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1971, when 44 Ranis were born — ranking #1,937 that year. As of 2026, Rani ranks #5,668 for girls with 22 births, gradually falling (-7%). In total, more than 2K Ranis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Rani first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1979, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 14 Ranis were born — ranking #5,996 that year. As of 2026, Rani ranks #9,821 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 215 Ranis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Rani
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rani is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rani
What does the name Rani mean?
How popular is Rani in 2026?
When was Rani most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rani most popular?
Is Rani a unisex name?
What names go well with Rani?
About the name Rani
Rani is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1946 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Rani's peak popularity came in 1971 when it ranked #1,937. Use the chart and map above to compare Rani's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1971 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.