Holding steady, #4,460 for girls today.
Popularity of Rani since 1946
Babies named Rani per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 23 | 0 |
| 1950s | 50 | 0 |
| 1960s | 152 | 0 |
| 1970s | 377 | 7 |
| 1980s | 264 | 27 |
| 1990s | 331 | 43 |
| 2000s | 309 | 69 |
| 2010s | 231 | 48 |
| 2020s | 174 | 21 |
Meaning & origin
Rani, a name meaning 'queen' in Sanskrit, has been used in the United States since at least 1946. Its popularity peaked in 1972, and it has remained a stable, low-frequency choice ever since. The name is most commonly found in California, reflecting its cultural roots in South Asian communities. With a current rank of 4,460th, Rani is a distinctive yet accessible option that carries royal elegance without the weight of more common regal names. Its etymology ties directly to the Sanskrit word for queen, and it has long been favored by Hindu families as both an independent name and a term of endearment.
Derived from Sanskrit rājñī (queen), the feminine of rājan (king). Used as a given name across South Asia and increasingly in the English-speaking world, often as a diminutive for longer names or independently.
Where Rani is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Rani” around the world
Where Rani lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Rani
Names that share Rani's style, for a brother or sister.
