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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ruqayya

Ruqayya

♀ Girl

Pronounced roo-KY-yah /ruˈkaɪ.jɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic — variously 'gentleness, tenderness', 'a charm/spell of protection', or 'rising, ascent'; the gloss variesLow

In 30 seconds: Gentle; rising: Ruqayya is Arabic for 'gentle; a charm; ascent'. Soft, honored, and warm (said 'roo-KY-yah').
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningFrom Arabic — variously 'gentleness, tenderness', 'a charm/spell of protection', or 'rising, ascent'; the gloss varies
U.S. rank (2025)#5204 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births25 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 194

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519962025

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

Ruqayya comes from Arabic — variously understood as 'gentleness, tenderness', 'a charm or incantation of protection' (ruqyah), or 'rising, ascent' (the gloss varies, which we note). The honored name of Ruqayyah, a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and wife of Uthman. A soft, beloved, honored name across the Muslim world (said 'roo-KY-yah').

In the U.S. it appears in Muslim families. Rare, gentle-or-rising at the root, and honored.

Did you know? Ruqayya ties to Arabic, variously 'gentleness', 'a protective charm', and 'rising, ascent' — the honored name of a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad — a soft, beloved name (the gloss varies, which we note; said 'roo-KY-yah').
Overall data confidence 65%
Arabic references — Ruqayyah — gloss varies

Variations

RuqayyahRukayyaRuqaiya

Nicknames

Ruqi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ruqayya…

Ruqayyah— a fellow spelling
Sumayya— a companion honored early-Muslim girls' name
Khadija— a fellow name of the Prophet's family
Raniya— a similarly popular pick
Asiya— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Ruqayya

By themeuncertainarabicislamic
By meaningProtectorGentle / Kind

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ruqayya mean?

Ruqayya is Arabic, variously 'gentleness', 'a protective charm', or 'rising, ascent'; the gloss varies, which we note.

How do you pronounce Ruqayya?

It's said roo-KY-yah /ruˈkaɪ.jɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Ruqayya a boy or girl name?

Ruqayya is a girl's name.

How popular is Ruqayya?

Ruqayya is a rare name in the U.S.

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