UK girl's name
Ramla
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "sandy place" or "sandy area".
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.
Ramla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ramla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 17 births.
This profile covers 230 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 229 living people in the UK are called Ramla. 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
- • Ramla ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 17 girls were registered as Ramla.
- • About 229 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ramla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2005
17 births
Estimated living
229
2026
Meaning
What does Ramla mean?
The name Ramla has its origins in Arabic, derived from the word "raml," which means "sand" or "sandy place." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region of Palestine.
The name Ramla gained historical significance due to its association with the ancient city of Ramla, located in present-day Israel. This city was established in the 8th century CE during the Umayyad Caliphate and served as an important administrative and commercial center.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Ramla can be found in historical accounts related to the city itself. The name is mentioned in various Arabic chronicles and texts from the medieval period, often in connection with the city's founding and development.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ramla. One such person was Ramla al-Sayyida, a renowned 11th-century poet and scholar from Baghdad. She was renowned for her expertise in various fields, including literature, grammar, and theology.
Another historically significant figure with the name Ramla was Ramla bint Abi Sufyan, who lived in the 7th century CE. She was the daughter of Abu Sufyan, a prominent leader in Mecca during the early days of Islam. Ramla played a role in the consolidation of the Islamic faith and was respected for her knowledge and wisdom.
In the 12th century, Ramla bint al-Muqaddam al-Bata'ihi was a renowned female scholar and poet from Damascus. She was celebrated for her contributions to Arabic literature and her mastery of various poetic forms.
During the 13th century, Ramla bint al-Shaykh al-Salihi was a prominent Sufi mystic and spiritual leader from Cairo. She gained recognition for her teachings and her influence in the spiritual circles of her time.
Another notable figure with the name Ramla was Ramla bint Abi al-Fadl, a 9th-century poet and scholar from Kufa, Iraq. She was highly regarded for her literary works and her expertise in various branches of knowledge.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who bore the name Ramla, highlighting its rich heritage and cultural significance within the Arabic-speaking world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ramla over time
The chart below shows babies named Ramla 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 Ramla, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ramla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ramla 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 | #3691 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3168 | 77 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2086 | 107 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2665 | 22 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ramla
- 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
Ramla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ramla in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ramla was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Ramla most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 17 babies registered as Ramla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ramla?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "sandy place" or "sandy area".
How many people are called Ramla in the UK?
A total of 230 babies have been registered as Ramla across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.