UK girl's name
Ruhi
A name of Arabic origin meaning "spirituality" or "soul".
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.
Ruhi is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ruhi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1036, with 33 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 33 births.
This profile covers 393 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 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 391 living people in the UK are called Ruhi. 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
- • Ruhi ranked #1036 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 33 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 33 girls were registered as Ruhi.
- • About 391 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruhi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1036
2024
Births in 2024
33
Latest year
Peak year
2022
33 births
Estimated living
391
2026
Meaning
What does Ruhi mean?
The name Ruhi is of Persian origin and can be traced back to the 10th century AD. It is derived from the Persian word "ruh," meaning "soul" or "spirit." This name holds a deep spiritual and poetic significance in Persian culture and literature.
In the renowned Persian epic poem "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi, written in the late 10th century, the name Ruhi is mentioned as a character. This ancient literary reference highlights the longstanding existence of this name in Persian society.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ruhi was Ruhi Samarqandi, a Persian poet and scholar who lived in the late 14th century. He was renowned for his literary works and contributions to the development of Persian poetry.
Another notable figure was Ruhi Baghdadi, a 16th-century Persian calligrapher and artist. His exquisite calligraphic works and illustrations were highly praised and are still celebrated today for their artistic excellence.
In the 17th century, Ruhi Anqaravi was a prominent Persian philosopher and mystic. His writings and teachings on Sufism and spirituality greatly influenced the intellectual landscape of his time.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Ruhi Khalvati was a renowned Persian poet and mystic. Her poetic works, imbued with mystical themes and spiritual insights, continue to be studied and appreciated by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike.
In more recent times, Ruhi Bagheri, a 20th-century Iranian singer and composer, gained fame for her beautiful vocals and contributions to traditional Persian music. Her artistic legacy has left an indelible mark on the cultural fabric of Iran.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ruhi, each leaving their mark in various fields, from literature and art to philosophy and music, reflecting the rich cultural heritage associated with this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ruhi over time
The chart below shows babies named Ruhi 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 Ruhi, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 33 births in 2024, compared with 33 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruhi by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruhi 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 | #1108 | 152 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2568 | 170 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2837 | 59 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Ruhi
- 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
Ruhi: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ruhi in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ruhi was ranked #1036 for girls in England and Wales, with 33 births registered.
When was Ruhi most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 33 babies registered as Ruhi in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ruhi?
A name of Arabic origin meaning "spirituality" or "soul".
How many people are called Ruhi in the UK?
A total of 393 babies have been registered as Ruhi across the 27 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.