UK girl's name
Roba
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the green grass after rain".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Roba is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Roba popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2009. 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 6 living people in the UK are called Roba. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Roba ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 girls were registered as Roba.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Roba as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Roba mean?
The name Roba is of Arabic origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "ribat," which translates to "fortress" or "fortified dwelling." This name was likely given to individuals who lived or worked in such fortified structures during the Islamic Golden Age, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Roba can be found in the historical chronicles of the Umayyad Caliphate, which ruled a vast territory spanning from the Iberian Peninsula to Central Asia between the 7th and 8th centuries. During this time, several individuals named Roba were mentioned as notable figures, though their specific roles and accomplishments remain obscure.
In the 9th century, an influential Muslim scholar and jurist named Roba ibn Nasr al-Bukhari gained recognition for his contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and hadith literature. He was born in the city of Bukhara, which was part of the Abbasid Caliphate, and his works were widely circulated throughout the Islamic world.
The name Roba also appeared in various literary works and poetic compositions during the medieval period. For instance, a renowned poet from Andalusia, Roba ibn Abdulrahman al-Qurtubi, who lived in the 11th century, was celebrated for his skill in crafting intricate verses and his mastery of the Arabic language.
In the 12th century, a prominent physician and philosopher named Roba ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, made significant contributions to the field of medicine and philosophy. Born in Persia, his seminal works, such as "The Canon of Medicine," were widely studied and translated into multiple languages, influencing the development of medical knowledge in both the Islamic and European worlds.
Another notable figure bearing the name Roba was a 14th-century Sufi mystic and poet from the Indian subcontinent, Roba Masud. His spiritual verses and teachings had a profound impact on the Sufi tradition and inspired many followers and devotees across South Asia.
Over the centuries, the name Roba has continued to be used in various Arabic-speaking regions, although its popularity has waned in recent times. Despite its diminished usage, the name remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of the Arabic-Islamic world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Roba over time
The chart below shows babies named Roba registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Roba, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Roba by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Roba 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 | #4965 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Roba
- 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
Roba: questions and answers
How popular is the name Roba in the UK right now?
In 2009, Roba was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Roba most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Roba in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Roba?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the green grass after rain".
How many people are called Roba in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Roba 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.