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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rokia

Rokia

♀ Girl

Pronounced roh-KEE-ah /roʊˈkiː.ɑː/Medium

Meaning: A West African form of the Arabic Ruqayyah — borne by a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and often glossed 'gentle; rise, ascent.' Rokia is common in Mali, Guinea, and the wider Mande-speaking region.Low

In 30 seconds: A Malian form of Ruqayyah: Rokia is warm and widely used in West Africa (said 'roh-KEE-ah'). Heritage-rich and gentle.
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Origin MediumArabic, Bambara
MeaningA West African form of the Arabic Ruqayyah — borne by a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, and often glossed 'gentle; rise, ascent.' Rokia is common in Mali, Guinea, and the wider Mande-speaking region.
U.S. rank (2024)#14877 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 116

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200419952024

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

Rokia is a Mande-language form of the Arabic Ruqayyah, honoured in Islamic tradition as the name of a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, which we note respectfully. Carried into the Sahel with Islam, it took this softer local shape and is now common in Mali, Guinea, and neighbouring countries. In the U.S. it is rare (said 'roh-KEE-ah').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare, gentle, and heritage-carried.

Did you know? Rokia is a West African form of Ruqayyah — a name borne by a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, which we note respectfully. It is familiar across Mali and Guinea (said 'roh-KEE-ah').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Rokia — West African (Mande) form of Arabic Ruqayyah

Variations

RuqayyahRokhayaRukia

Nicknames

RokiKia

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rokia…

Khadija— a like honoured name from the same tradition
Fatoumata— a like West African favourite
Aisha— a warm, widely loved Muslim girls' name
Mariama— another beloved regional name

Explore names like Rokia

By themearabicheritagewest-africangentle

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rokia mean?

Rokia is a West African form of the Arabic Ruqayyah, borne by a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad; the Arabic name is often glossed 'gentle; rise.'

How do you pronounce Rokia?

It's said roh-KEE-ah /roʊˈkiː.ɑː/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Rokia a boy or girl name?

Rokia is a girl's name.

How popular is Rokia?

Rokia is rare in the U.S., though it is common in Mali and Guinea.

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