Given name & surname
Rani
“a lovely singer; a queenly woman”
Rani is used as a given name and a surname. One Hebrew interpretation is “a lovely singer; a queenly woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hebrew interpretation is “a lovely singer; a queenly woman.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hebrew.
How it developed
In English usage, Rani developed from रानी.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1946. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Rani through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,126
- 215 boys · 1,911 girls
- Most popular year
- 1979
- 50 babies
- 2025
- 31
- #4,528 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −3%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 31 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,528 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,382 as a first name in 2020; 2,239 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Rani’s family of names
In English usage, Rani shares an earlier linguistic root with Regina. Rani has a related form in Rania. Rani has a related form in Ranita.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Rani has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Hebrew roots to each of them.
4 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 12
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Raniavariant
- Ranevariant
- Ranievariant
- Ranitavariant
- Raniquevariant
- Raaneevariant
- Ranittavariant
- Ranithvariant
Show 4 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Rani
- Rani MukerjiIndian actress (born 1978)
- Rani KhediraTunisian association football player (born 1994)
- ReileyFaroese singerborn 1997
- Rani PadminiIndian queen
- Rani DurgavatiQueen regent of Gondwana (1524–1564)
- Rani RampalIndian field hockey playerborn 1994
- Rani ChatterjeeIndian actressborn 1984
- Rani HamidBangladeshi female chess playerborn 1944
- Rani KarnaaIndian classical dancer1939–2018
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Rani, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Janna
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Tommi
Tommi is a masculine given name from Biblical Hebrew. It is used in Finnish.
2% boys · 98% girls
Raisa
“as beautiful as the rose” · “one who is carefree”
>99% girls
Shana
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Shawna
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Tamar
“from the palm tree”
6% boys · 94% girls
Rachel
“ewe”
>99% girls
Alona
“one who is as strong as an oak”
>99% girls