NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Rihan

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "basil plant".

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.

Rihan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rihan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 18 births.

This profile covers 137 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2000 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 61% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 136 living people in the UK are called Rihan. 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

  • Rihan ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 18 boys were registered as Rihan.
  • About 136 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rihan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 90.7% of Rihan registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2088

2024

Births in 2024

11

Latest year

Peak year

2019

18 births

Estimated living

136

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Rihan

In England and Wales birth records, Rihan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 90.7% of registrations are for boys and 9.3% 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.

91% boys
Boys137 (90.7%)Girls14 (9.3%)

Rihan registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,088 in 2024
  • 11 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2019 (18 births)

Rihan registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,891 in 2024
  • 3 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2012 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Rihan mean?

The name Rihan originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Middle Eastern and North African regions. It is derived from the Arabic word "rihan," which means "basil" or "sweet basil." The name is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 7th to 13th centuries.

The sweet basil plant holds significance in various cultures and traditions, often associated with love, fertility, and prosperity. In some regions, it was used in religious and spiritual ceremonies, contributing to the name's cultural significance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rihan can be found in Arabic literature and poetry from the 9th century. It was sometimes used as a poetic reference to the fragrance and beauty of the basil plant.

Among the historical figures who bore the name Rihan, one notable example is Rihan al-Basri, a renowned Arab poet and scholar from the 8th century. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his mastery of the Arabic language.

Another notable figure was Rihan ibn Rustam, a 9th-century Persian philosopher and mathematician. He is credited with making significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the study of algebraic equations.

In the 11th century, Rihan al-Dimashqi was a prominent Arab geographer and traveler. He is known for his work "Nukhbat al-Dahr fi 'Aja'ib al-Barr wa al-Bahr," which documented his travels and observations of different lands and cultures.

During the 13th century, Rihan al-Qurashi was a distinguished Islamic scholar and jurist from the city of Mecca. He was renowned for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and his teachings on various aspects of Islamic law.

In the 16th century, Rihan Baydawi was a celebrated Ottoman poet and calligrapher. His works were widely appreciated for their artistic merit and mastery of the Arabic language.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who carried the name Rihan, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and diverse representation across various fields, including literature, science, and religion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rihan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rihan in England and Wales, from 2000 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 Rihan, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0591418200020122024

Decades

Rihan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rihan 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 #2421 45 5
2010s #2580 75 8
2000s #3253 17 4

Related

Names similar to Rihan

FAQ

Rihan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rihan was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.

When was Rihan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 18 babies registered as Rihan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rihan?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "basil plant".

How many people are called Rihan in the UK?

A total of 137 babies have been registered as Rihan across the 17 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.