NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rehma

An Arabic name meaning "mercy" or "compassion".

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.

Rehma is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rehma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 7 births.

This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2006 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Rehma. 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

  • Rehma ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 7 girls were registered as Rehma.
  • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rehma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3318

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2017

7 births

Estimated living

50

2026

Meaning

What does Rehma mean?

The name Rehma is of Arabic origin and has its roots in the word "rahma," which means "mercy" or "compassion" in Arabic. This name is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, as it reflects one of the important attributes of Allah (God) mentioned in the Quran.

Rehma is a name with deep spiritual and religious significance in the Islamic faith. It is often given to girls with the hope that they will embody the qualities of mercy, kindness, and compassion towards others. The name is also sometimes spelled as Rahma or Rehmah, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rehma can be found in the 7th century, during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. There are accounts of a woman named Rehma bint Zayd, who was a companion of the Prophet and known for her piety and devotion to the faith.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Rehma. One example is Rehma Sultana, an Indian royal princess who lived in the 17th century and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature. Another notable figure is Rehma Sherwani, an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century.

In more recent times, Rehma Kasuri was a Pakistani politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2007. Rehma Bader, born in 1986, is a Jordanian-American author and activist who has written about her experiences as a Muslim woman and advocated for women's rights.

The name Rehma has also been carried by several artists and performers throughout history. Rehma Mallick, a Pakistani singer and actress who was active in the 1960s and 1970s, was known for her contributions to the Pakistani film industry. Rehma Sutton, born in 1975, is a British actress and writer who has appeared in various television shows and films.

While the name Rehma has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities over time. The name continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a name with deep spiritual and cultural significance, reflecting the values of mercy, compassion, and kindness.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rehma over time

The chart below shows babies named Rehma registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Rehma, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rehma
02457200620152024

Decades

Rehma by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rehma 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 #3968 26 5
2010s #4893 21 5
2000s #5061 3 1

Related

Names similar to Rehma

FAQ

Rehma: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rehma was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Rehma most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 7 babies registered as Rehma in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rehma?

An Arabic name meaning "mercy" or "compassion".

How many people are called Rehma in the UK?

A total of 50 babies have been registered as Rehma across the 11 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.