Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Rani
GirlSanskrit, Hindi· “queen”
- Meaning
- queen
- Origin
- Sanskrit, Hindi
- Pronunciation
- RAH-nee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,528
- US babies 2025
- 31
- Best rank
- #1,959 (1971)
- Peak year
- 1971
Meaning and origin of Rani
Rani is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “queen”.
Rani is a Sanskrit and Hindi word meaning queen, the feminine of raja, king. It was a title for queens and princesses in India, most famously Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, who fought against British rule in the uprising of the mid-nineteenth century. As a given name it is used in India and among families of Indian heritage. It is said RAH-nee. In Hebrew, Rani is a separate masculine name meaning my joy, used in Israel. Raina and Rania are other names with a similar sound.
Other spellings with the same sound: Ronnie, Ronny.
Popularity over time
Rani first appears in US Social Security records in 1946. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,959 in 1971, the same year it reached its highest count of 44 babies. In 2025, 31 babies were named Rani, and it ranked #4,528 nationally. That is 72% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,579 in 1980, #3,642 in 2000, #6,337 in 2010, and #4,528 in 2025. Of the 1,911 US girls named Rani since records began, 20% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 331 babies. Since 2010, 405 more have been named Rani.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Christianne, Kristene, Martie, Genny, and Kandie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Rani ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #3025 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 86% of US babies named Rani over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Rani is usually pronounced RAH-nee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with R and ends in “-ni”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Ronnie and Ronny.
Middle names for Rani
A few middle names that flow with Rani: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Rani
Similar names
Avni Girl
AHV-nee
“earth” · Sanskrit
#2,123
Asha Girl
AH-shuh
“hope” · Sanskrit
#1,373
Leela Girl
LEE-luh
“play, divine play” · Sanskrit
#1,282
Avani Girl
uh-VAH-nee
“earth” · Sanskrit
#806
Aarya Girl
AHR-yuh
“noble” · Sanskrit
#1,258
Meera Girl
MEER-uh
“uncertain; possibly 'ocean' or 'boundary'” · Sanskrit
#1,020
Isha Girl
EE-shuh
“ruler, lord” · Sanskrit
#1,276
Aarna Girl
AR-nuh
Sanskrit
#1,540
Jaya Girl
JY-uh
“victory” · Sanskrit
#2,204
Nila Girl
NEE-luh
“dark blue” · Sanskrit
#1,754
Lani Girl
LAH-nee
“sky, heaven” · Hawaiian
#1,603
Tanvi Girl
TAHN-vee
“slender, delicate” · Sanskrit
#4,059
Lists that include Rani
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rani mean?
Rani is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “queen”.
What is the origin of the name Rani?
Rani has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Rani is a Sanskrit and Hindi word meaning queen, the feminine of raja, king.
Is Rani a popular name?
Not especially. Rani ranked #4,528 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Rani a boy or girl name?
Rani is mainly a girl's name. About 86% of US babies named Rani over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Rani?
Rani is usually pronounced RAH-nee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings