UK boy's name
Rehan
An Arabic name meaning "soul rejoicing" or "scent of 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.
Rehan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Rehan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1132, with 25 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 145 births.
This profile covers 1,709 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,747 living people in the UK are called Rehan. 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
- • Rehan ranked #1132 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 25 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 145 boys were registered as Rehan.
- • Rehan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #720 in 2021.
- • About 1,747 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rehan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1132
2024
Births in 2024
25
Latest year
Peak year
2008
145 births
Estimated living
1,747
2026
Meaning
What does Rehan mean?
The name Rehan is of Arabic origin and is derived from the word "Raheen," which means "traveler" or "wayfarer." This name has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the early centuries of the Islamic era.
In Islamic tradition, the name Rehan is sometimes associated with the concept of spiritual journey and the pursuit of knowledge. It is believed that the name was inspired by the idea of seeking enlightenment and understanding through travel and exploration.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rehan can be found in historical records from the 8th century. During this time, there was a famous Islamic scholar and traveler named Rehan al-Andalusi, who hailed from Andalusia (modern-day Spain). He was known for his extensive travels and contributions to various fields, including astronomy and mathematics.
Throughout the centuries, the name Rehan has been borne by several notable individuals. For instance, Rehan Khan (1510-1578) was a renowned Mughal general who served under the emperors Humayun and Akbar. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the Mughal Empire and is remembered for his military achievements.
Another prominent figure with the name Rehan was Rehan Shaukat (1923-2003), a celebrated Pakistani poet and writer. He was widely acclaimed for his poetic works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and social issues.
In the realm of sports, Rehan Butt (born 1967) is a former Pakistani cricketer who represented his country in both Test and One Day International matches. He is particularly remembered for his contribution to Pakistan's historic victory in the 1992 Cricket World Cup.
Rehan Poncha (born 1984) is a contemporary Indian swimmer who has won numerous medals in international competitions, including the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He has brought honor to his country through his athletic achievements.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Rehan throughout history. The name continues to be popular in various parts of the world, particularly in regions with strong Arabic and Islamic cultural influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rehan over time
The chart below shows babies named Rehan 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 Rehan, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 25 births in 2024, compared with 145 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rehan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rehan 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 | #938 | 165 | 5 |
| 2010s | #512 | 812 | 10 |
| 2000s | #591 | 670 | 10 |
| 1990s | #962 | 62 | 4 |
Geography
Where Rehan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rehan. 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.
Rehan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #720 in 2021.
Across the UK
Rehan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#720 in 2021
11 years of NRS records, 50 total registered
Related
Names similar to Rehan
- 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
Rehan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rehan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rehan was ranked #1132 for boys in England and Wales, with 25 births registered.
When was Rehan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 145 babies registered as Rehan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rehan?
An Arabic name meaning "soul rejoicing" or "scent of basil".
How many people are called Rehan in the UK?
A total of 1,709 babies have been registered as Rehan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 50 more in Scotland.
Where is Rehan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Rehan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #720 in 2021. 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.