Fun Facts About the Name Ruqaiya
- 47 babies named Ruqaiya: U.S. records list 47 babies given the name Ruqaiya from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ruqaiya Mean?
Ruqaiya is an Arabic name meaning "charm" or "incantation." It is a transliteration of the Arabic Ruqayyah (رُقَيَّة), which is related to the noun ruqyah (رُقْيَة), an incantation or charm, especially a recitation used in healing. The same Arabic root, r-q-y (ر-ق-ي), also has the sense of rising or ascending, so the name is sometimes explained as "ascent." That explanation draws on the root's wider meaning rather than on the specific noun ruqyah.
Ruqaiya Name History & Origins
The name is Arabic and is used in Muslim communities in forms such as Ruqayyah, Ruqayya, Ruqaiya, and Rukaiya. In Islamic tradition, its best-known early bearer is Ruqayyah, a daughter of Muhammad and Khadija. She was married to Uthman ibn Affan and is traditionally said to have emigrated with him to Abyssinia and later to Medina; she died around 624 CE. The name's association with her is strong in Islamic history, but the name itself is an ordinary Arabic personal name, not one created by that tradition.
Arabic uses a consonantal script, so English spellings vary according to how the short vowels are represented. Ruqayyah is a formal Arabic-style transliteration, while Ruqaiya is common in South Asian and other Muslim usage. The name also appears in local forms such as Turkish Rukiye and Persian Roqayyeh.
How Popular is the Name Ruqaiya?
Ruqaiya 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 2021. Its best rank was #12,932 in 2025.
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 | #12,932 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #17,158 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #17,138 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #14,964 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #13,220 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #14,792 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #16,149 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #18,772 | 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 Ruqaiya 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. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Ruqaiya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ruqaiya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.