Fun Facts About the Name Rabia
- 862 babies named Rabia: U.S. records list 862 babies given the name Rabia from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Rabia Mean?
Rabia is an Arabic feminine name meaning "fourth." It comes from the Arabic masculine rābiʿ (رابع), "fourth," with the feminine ending -a; the usual Arabic form is Rābiʿa (رابعة). The literal sense is "fourth," and the name is traditionally explained as referring to a fourth daughter or fourth child.
The English spelling Rabia can also stand for the separate Arabic name Rabīʿa (ربيعة), which is not the feminine ordinal "fourth" and is also used as a tribal name. The common female given name discussed here is normally Rābiʿa (رابعة).
Rabia Name History & Origins
The name was in use in the early Islamic period. Its most celebrated early bearer is Rabia al-Adawiyya, also called Rabia Basri, a mystic from Basra traditionally dated to about 714 - 801 and remembered in Sufi tradition for her teachings on the love of God. Later accounts say she was the fourth daughter of her family, a traditional explanation of her name rather than a separate etymology.
From Arabic, the name entered other languages of Muslim communities. It appears in Turkish as Rabia, and in Persian, Urdu, and Bengali as Rabia or Rabeya. These forms keep the Arabic name's basic sense of "fourth"; they are not derived from the Arabic word rabīʿ (ربيع), "spring," which belongs to the same root but is a different word.
How Popular is the Name Rabia?
Rabia has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1997. Its best rank was #3,790 in 1997.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,689 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #9,387 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #5,510 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2022 | #8,928 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #10,940 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #6,571 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2019 | #8,048 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #9,030 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #8,671 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #6,852 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #10,005 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #8,851 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #9,483 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #11,061 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2011 | #7,349 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2010 | #8,197 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #9,848 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #8,861 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #5,656 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #7,078 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #7,819 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2004 | #5,919 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #6,252 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #5,623 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #5,514 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #5,112 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #4,054 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1998 | #4,338 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1997 | #3,790 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1996 | #3,914 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1995 | #4,186 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1994 | #3,868 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1993 | #4,214 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #4,344 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1991 | #4,766 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1990 | #4,647 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1989 | #5,769 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #4,275 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1987 | #4,816 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #6,054 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #4,090 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #4,123 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #4,826 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #6,723 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #5,497 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #7,234 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #4,785 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1978 | #9,403 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #9,305 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #5,484 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #8,734 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #9,398 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Rabia Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Rabia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rabia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.