UK girl's name
Rihab
Feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "generous" or "open space".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Rihab is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rihab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5545, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2008. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Rihab. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Rihab ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Rihab.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rihab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5545
2008
Births in 2008
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Rihab mean?
The name Rihab is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the 7th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "rih," which means "fragrance" or "aroma." The name is often associated with the rose flower and its sweet scent.
In Islamic tradition, Rihab is mentioned in several hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) as a woman who lived during the time of the Prophet. She is known for her generosity and her commitment to helping others.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rihab can be found in a 9th-century text written by the Arab historian al-Tabari. In his work, he mentions a woman named Rihab who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.
Throughout history, there have been several notable women with the name Rihab. One of the most famous is Rihab Taha (1903-1986), an Egyptian writer and activist who was a pioneer of the feminist movement in Egypt. She was known for her works that advocated for women's rights and social reforms.
Another notable Rihab is Rihab Massoud (born 1968), a Syrian actress and director who has appeared in numerous films and television shows. She is known for her work in promoting Syrian culture and advocating for human rights.
In the field of science, Rihab Abdel-Latif (born 1965) is an Egyptian astrophysicist who has made significant contributions to the study of galaxy formation and evolution. She is currently a professor at the American University in Cairo.
Rihab Boukhayatia (born 1980) is a Tunisian basketball player who has represented her country in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games and the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
Rihab Al-Misbahi (born 1983) is a Kuwaiti writer and poet who has published several collections of poetry and short stories. Her works often explore themes of identity, love, and social issues in the Arab world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rihab over time
The chart below shows babies named Rihab registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Rihab, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rihab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rihab 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4758 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Rihab
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rihab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rihab in the UK right now?
In 2008, Rihab was ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rihab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Rihab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rihab?
Feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "generous" or "open space".
How many people are called Rihab in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Rihab across the 2 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.