NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rawda

A feminine Arabic name referring to a lush garden or meadow.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Rawda is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rawda popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 4 births.

This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2009 to 2021. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Rawda. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Rawda ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 4 girls were registered as Rawda.
  • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rawda as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2009

4 births

Estimated living

14

2026

Meaning

What does Rawda mean?

The name Rawda is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the Islamic culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "rawdah," which means "garden" or "meadow." The name is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century AD.

In Islamic tradition, the word "rawdah" is often associated with the concept of Paradise or the Garden of Eden, which is described as a lush and beautiful garden where the righteous will dwell in the afterlife. The name Rawda is therefore seen as a reminder of the divine rewards promised to those who lead a virtuous life.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rawda can be found in the Hadith literature, which are the recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. In one of the Hadith, the Prophet is said to have referred to a specific garden or meadow as "Rawdah."

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rawda. One of the most famous was Rawda al-Muhairi, a renowned Arab poet from the 10th century AD. She was celebrated for her mastery of Arabic poetry and her contributions to the literary arts during the Abbasid Caliphate.

Another notable figure was Rawda bint Muhammad, a respected scholar and teacher who lived in the 9th century AD. She was known for her extensive knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her teachings, which influenced many scholars of her time.

In the 12th century, there was Rawda al-Muqaddasiyya, a prominent female Sufi mystic and poet from Jerusalem. Her writings and teachings on mysticism and spirituality were highly influential in the Islamic world.

During the Ottoman Empire, Rawda Banu Begum was a prominent figure in the 16th century. She was a princess and the wife of Sultan Selim II, and she played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the Ottoman court.

More recently, in the 20th century, Rawda al-Khateeb was a renowned Syrian writer and activist. She was known for her work advocating for women's rights and her contributions to Arabic literature, including novels, short stories, and poetry.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the name Rawda throughout history, reflecting its deep roots in the Arabic and Islamic traditions and its association with concepts of beauty, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rawda over time

The chart below shows babies named Rawda registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Rawda, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rawda
01234200920152021

Decades

Rawda by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rawda 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 #5581 3 1
2010s #5235 7 2
2000s #4564 4 1

Related

Names similar to Rawda

FAQ

Rawda: questions and answers

How popular is the name Rawda in the UK right now?

In 2021, Rawda was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Rawda most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 4 babies registered as Rawda in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rawda?

A feminine Arabic name referring to a lush garden or meadow.

How many people are called Rawda in the UK?

A total of 14 babies have been registered as Rawda across the 4 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.