Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Rokhaya since 1997
Babies named Rokhaya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 61 |
| 2010s | 33 |
| 2020s | 32 |
Meaning & origin
Rokhaya is a distinctive name with roots in West African cultures, particularly among the Wolof people. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1997 and has maintained a stable but low level of use, never breaking into the top 10,000. As of 2025, it ranked 14,942, with about 1 in 321,453 newborn girls receiving the name. Its peak year was 2005, when it saw its highest count, and it has since fluctuated within a narrow range. The name's etymology remains debated, with some linking it to the Arabic Ruqayyah (daughter of the Prophet Muhammad), while others consider it a purely West African formation. Rokhaya has not been associated with any specific state concentration, reflecting its even but sparse distribution across the country.
Rokhaya is a name found primarily in West Africa, especially among the Wolof people of Senegal and the Gambia. Its exact etymology is unclear, but it may be related to the name Rougui (from Arabic ruqayyah, meaning 'ascent' or 'spiritual elevation'), or it could be a feminine variant of Rokhaya, itself of uncertain derivation. The name has been used in the region for generations and gained some visibility internationally in the late 20th century.
“Rokhaya” around the world
Where Rokhaya lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rokh, Roky, Khaya
Variants: Rokhaya, Roukhaya, Rocaya
Sibling names for Rokhaya
Names that share Rokhaya's style, for a brother or sister.
