NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Reham

An Arabic feminine name meaning "merciful" or "compassionate".

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.

Reham is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Reham popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 8 births.

This profile covers 103 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1998 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 102 living people in the UK are called Reham. 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

  • Reham ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 8 girls were registered as Reham.
  • About 102 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reham as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2005

8 births

Estimated living

102

2026

Meaning

What does Reham mean?

The name Reham has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "rahima," which means "to have mercy" or "to be compassionate." This name gained popularity in the Middle East and North Africa regions where Arabic is widely spoken.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Reham can be found in ancient Arabic literature and poetry. It was often used as a poetic term to describe someone with a kind and merciful nature. The name held significance in the Islamic faith, as compassion and mercy are highly valued virtues in the religion.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Reham. One of the earliest recorded figures was Reham al-Basri (642-728 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Basra, Iraq. She was highly respected for her knowledge of Islamic law and her contributions to the study of hadith (the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad).

Another prominent figure was Reham Khansa (575-646 CE), an influential Arab poet from the pre-Islamic era. She was renowned for her elegies and her poetic prowess, which earned her the title "The Princess of Arab Poets." Her poetry often touched upon themes of loss, grief, and the strength of the human spirit.

In the 12th century, Reham al-Din al-Suyuti (1445-1505 CE) was a renowned Egyptian scholar, jurist, and polymath. He made significant contributions to various fields, including Islamic jurisprudence, Quranic exegesis, and Arabic grammar. His works were widely studied and revered in the Islamic world.

During the Ottoman Empire, Reham Sultan (1642-1714) was a prominent figure in the imperial harem. She was the consort of Sultan Mehmed IV and had a significant influence on the political affairs of the empire during her lifetime.

In more recent times, Reham Khan (born 1973) is a Pakistani journalist, broadcaster, and former wife of the current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. She gained prominence for her work in television and her involvement in political and humanitarian causes.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Reham. While the name has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has transcended borders and has been embraced by people from various backgrounds and ethnicities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Reham over time

The chart below shows babies named Reham registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Reham, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Reham
02468199820112024

Decades

Reham by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reham 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 #4411 18 4
2010s #4281 50 10
2000s #3679 30 6
1990s #2701 5 1

Related

Names similar to Reham

FAQ

Reham: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Reham was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Reham most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 8 babies registered as Reham in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Reham?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "merciful" or "compassionate".

How many people are called Reham in the UK?

A total of 103 babies have been registered as Reham across the 21 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.