Raisa

Meaning & origin

Raisa is a name with a gentle, melodic sound and a meaning rooted in prosperity ('rich' or 'wealthy' from Arabic). In the United States, it first appeared on the Social Security Administration's records in 1962 and has experienced a gradual upward trend since the mid-1980s, with a trajectory classified as rising. The name reached its peak popularity in 1988, when it ranked more prominently, though it remains uncommon today; in 2025, approximately 1 in 53,576 newborn girls received the name, placing it at rank 4,546. While not associated with any particular U.S. states in the official data, Raisa has broader international appeal, particularly in Arabic-speaking and Slavic countries, where it gained visibility through the former Soviet first lady Raisa Gorbachev. The name's simplicity and the favorable meanings attributed to it contribute to its quiet, enduring use.

Raisa is a feminine given name of Arabic origin, derived from the root r-'-s, meaning 'chief' or 'leader,' hence 'rich' or 'wealthy.' In some interpretations, it is also connected to the Persian word for 'rose' (gol), though this is less certain. The name appears in various forms across the Arabic-speaking world and has been adopted in other cultures, particularly in Eastern Europe and Russia, where it is often associated with the Russian name Raisa, which gained prominence through Raisa Gorbachev, wife of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.