UK boy's name
Rayhaan
A masculine Arabic name meaning "fragrance" or "sweet basil".
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.
Rayhaan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rayhaan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1859, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 39 births.
This profile covers 419 England and Wales registrations across 27 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 416 living people in the UK are called Rayhaan. 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
- • Rayhaan ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 39 boys were registered as Rayhaan.
- • About 416 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rayhaan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1859
2024
Births in 2024
13
Latest year
Peak year
2007
39 births
Estimated living
416
2026
Meaning
What does Rayhaan mean?
The name Rayhaan is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word "rayhan," which means "sweet basil." The name has been in use since ancient times in the Middle East and North Africa, where the sweet basil plant is native and has been cultivated for centuries.
Rayhaan is a unisex name, meaning it can be used for both boys and girls. In Arabic culture, the sweet basil plant is associated with good luck, prosperity, and purity, which may explain why the name was chosen for children.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rayhaan can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. In the Quran, the word "rayhan" is used to describe the fragrant plants and trees that will be found in Paradise.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Rayhaan. One of the earliest was Rayhaan al-Bahili, an Arab poet who lived in the 7th century CE. He was known for his elegant verses and was considered one of the greatest poets of his time.
Another famous Rayhaan was Rayhaan al-Tawhidi, a 10th-century Islamic philosopher and theologian from Iraq. He was a prolific writer and is credited with contributing to the development of Islamic philosophy and theology.
In the 12th century, Rayhaan al-Mawsili was a renowned musician and composer from Baghdad. He was known for his mastery of the oud, a traditional Middle Eastern lute, and his compositions were highly influential in the development of Arabic music.
Rayhaan al-Dayrani was a 13th-century Sufi poet and mystic from Syria. His poems, which often dealt with themes of love and spiritual enlightenment, were widely popular and are still studied today.
In more recent times, Rayhaan Mukhtar was a 20th-century Pakistani physicist and academic. He made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission from 1960 to 1972.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Rayhaan. The name has endured for centuries, carrying with it the rich cultural and historical significance of its Arabic origins and the sweet fragrance of the basil plant from which it was derived.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rayhaan over time
The chart below shows babies named Rayhaan 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 Rayhaan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 39 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rayhaan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rayhaan 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 | #2199 | 31 | 3 |
| 2010s | #1508 | 167 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1169 | 200 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2125 | 21 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Rayhaan
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rayhaan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rayhaan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rayhaan was ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.
When was Rayhaan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 39 babies registered as Rayhaan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rayhaan?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "fragrance" or "sweet basil".
How many people are called Rayhaan in the UK?
A total of 419 babies have been registered as Rayhaan across the 27 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.