UK name, mostly boys
Rayhan
A name of Arabic origin meaning "fragrant" 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.
Rayhan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rayhan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 103 births.
This profile covers 1,157 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,176 living people in the UK are called Rayhan. 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
- • Rayhan ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 103 boys were registered as Rayhan.
- • Rayhan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 2024.
- • About 1,176 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rayhan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.9% of Rayhan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1758
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2007
103 births
Estimated living
1,176
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Rayhan
In England and Wales birth records, Rayhan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 98.9% of registrations are for boys and 1.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Rayhan registered for boys
- Ranked #1,758 in 2024
- 14 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (103 births)
Rayhan registered for girls
- Ranked #5,687 in 2023
- 3 girls registered in 2023
- Peak: 2021 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Rayhan mean?
The name Rayhan is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "rayhan," which means "basil" or "sweet basil" in Arabic. The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East and parts of North Africa during the early Islamic period.
The name Rayhan has strong cultural and religious ties in the Arabic-speaking world. It is mentioned in several Islamic texts and scriptures, including the Quran, where it is described as one of the fragrances of Paradise. The name is also associated with the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Al-Hasan ibn Ali, whose epithet was "Rayhan Al-Khuld," meaning "the sweet basil of eternity."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rayhan can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and philosopher, Al-Mutanabbi (915-965 CE). He used the name in his poems, praising the fragrance and beauty of the basil plant.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Rayhan. One of the most famous was Rayhan al-Baghdadi (917-1029 CE), a renowned Arabic philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer from Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the fields of optics, mechanics, and astronomy.
Another notable bearer of the name was Rayhan al-Sufi (903-986 CE), an influential Persian astronomer and writer. He is best known for his work on the constellations and stars, which included detailed descriptions and illustrations.
In the 12th century, Rayhan al-Andalusi (1121-1185 CE) was a prominent Andalusian Muslim philosopher and scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and physics.
During the 13th century, Rayhan al-Khwarizmi (1170-1250 CE) was a renowned Persian mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the development of algebra and the study of celestial bodies.
In more recent times, Rayhan Bouguerra (born 1986) is an Algerian professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for MC Alger in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rayhan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rayhan in England and Wales, 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 Rayhan, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 103 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rayhan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rayhan 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 | #1395 | 96 | 5 |
| 2010s | #776 | 464 | 10 |
| 2000s | #592 | 545 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1064 | 52 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rayhan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rayhan. 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.
Rayhan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #535 in 2024.
Across the UK
Rayhan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#535 in 2024
7 years of NRS records, 27 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rayhan
- 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
Rayhan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rayhan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rayhan was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Rayhan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 103 babies registered as Rayhan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rayhan?
A name of Arabic origin meaning "fragrant" or "sweet basil".
How many people are called Rayhan in the UK?
A total of 1,157 babies have been registered as Rayhan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 27 more in Scotland.
Where is Rayhan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rayhan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #535 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.