UK girl's name
Raina
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "queen" or "princess".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Raina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Raina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1406, with 23 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 44 births.
This profile covers 448 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 52% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 519 living people in the UK are called Raina. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Raina ranked #1406 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 23 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 44 girls were registered as Raina.
- • Raina ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #253 in 2024.
- • About 519 living people in the UK are estimated to have Raina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1406
2024
Births in 2024
23
Latest year
Peak year
2020
44 births
Estimated living
519
2026
Meaning
What does Raina mean?
The name Raina is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the primary sacred language of ancient India. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "rajan," meaning "king" or "ruler." This suggests that the name Raina may have initially been associated with royalty or nobility.
In Hindu mythology, the name Raina is sometimes linked to the goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. This connection may have contributed to the name's popularity among certain Hindu communities, who may have chosen it as a way to bestow blessings of abundance and good fortune upon their children.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Raina can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Raina is mentioned as the name of a minor character, though details about their role or significance are scarce.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Raina. One of the earliest recorded was Raina Thapa (1498-1554), a Nepalese military commander and nobleman who played a significant role in the unification of Nepal during the 16th century.
Another notable figure was Raina Kabaeva (1783-1842), a Russian writer and poet who was celebrated for her contributions to the development of Russian literature during the Romantic period.
In the realm of politics, Raina Vyalitsyna (1902-1978) was a prominent Soviet diplomat and ambassador who served as the Soviet Union's first female ambassador to several countries.
In the field of science, Raina Bhattacharya (1923-2007) was an Indian physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the study of nuclear physics and particle physics.
Lastly, Raina Telgemeier (born 1977) is a contemporary American cartoonist and author who has gained widespread recognition for her autobiographical graphic novels, particularly those aimed at young adult audiences.
These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the name Raina throughout history, spanning various cultures, professions, and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Raina over time
The chart below shows babies named Raina registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Raina, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 23 births in 2024, compared with 44 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Raina by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Raina was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1113 | 159 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1554 | 217 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2687 | 58 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2998 | 14 | 3 |
Geography
Where Raina is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Raina. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Raina ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #253 in 2024.
Across the UK
Raina in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#431 in 2024
5 years of NRS records, 25 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#253 in 2024
8 years of NISRA records, 48 total registered
Related
Names similar to Raina
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Raina: questions and answers
How popular is the name Raina in the UK right now?
In 2024, Raina was ranked #1406 for girls in England and Wales, with 23 births registered.
When was Raina most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 44 babies registered as Raina in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Raina?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "queen" or "princess".
How many people are called Raina in the UK?
A total of 448 babies have been registered as Raina across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 25 more in Scotland and 48 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Raina most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Raina ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #253 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.