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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rihanna

Rihanna

♀ Girl

Pronounced ree-AN-uh /ɹi.ˈæn.ə/Medium

Meaning: BasilMedium

In 30 seconds: Rihanna is an Arabic name meaning 'basil', after the fragrant herb. The double-n spelling became famous through the singer who bears it.
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningBasil
U.S. rank (2025)#2150 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births87 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,609

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200820002025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rihanna means 'basil' in Arabic, naming the sweet aromatic herb. It belongs to a family of fragrance names that also appears as Rayhana, Rehana, and Reyhaneh. The herb's pleasant scent gives the whole group its appeal.

The flowing three-syllable sound and the herbal meaning give Rihanna a soft, fragrant character. The Barbadian singer known simply as Rihanna brought this particular spelling to worldwide recognition.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Rihanna is 'basil', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Rihanna — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

RayhanaRayhaneRehanaReyhanehReyhan

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Rihanna (1988–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Rihanna…

Yasmina— Another fragrant Arabic plant name, in the same scented-flora family.
Aleyna— a similarly popular pick
Layana— a similarly popular pick
Nirvana— shares Rihanna's Arabic roots
Madina— shares Rihanna's Arabic roots

Explore names like Rihanna

By themearabicnature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rihanna mean?

Rihanna is usually explained as meaning 'basil' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Rihanna?

It's commonly said ree-AN-uh /ɹi.ˈæn.ə/.

Is Rihanna a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Rihanna is used as a girl name.

How popular is Rihanna?

In 2024, Rihanna ranked #1756 in the U.S. for girls, with 115 births recorded.

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