NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rukaya

A feminine Arabic name meaning "high" or "lofty".

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.

Rukaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rukaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 8 births.

This profile covers 56 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1998 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 56 living people in the UK are called Rukaya. 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

  • Rukaya ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 8 girls were registered as Rukaya.
  • About 56 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rukaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4192

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2010

8 births

Estimated living

56

2026

Meaning

What does Rukaya mean?

The name Rukaya has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "raka" which means "to kneel" or "to prostrate". The name is often associated with the act of prayer and submission to God in Islam.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Rukaya can be found in the Hadith literature, which are the recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad. In these texts, Rukaya is mentioned as the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad and his first wife, Khadijah.

In Islamic history, Rukaya bint Muhammad (born around 609 CE) was known for her piety and devotion to her faith. She was married to Othman ibn Affan, who later became the third Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate. Rukaya passed away in 624 CE, during the early years of Islam.

Another notable figure with the name Rukaya was Rukaya bint Abi Yazid (born in the late 7th century CE), a renowned scholar of Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence. She was recognized for her vast knowledge and her contributions to the preservation and transmission of Islamic teachings.

In the 12th century, Rukaya bint Al-Hasan (1120-1194 CE) was a prominent female Sufi mystic and poet from Damascus. Her poetic works, which often reflected her spiritual devotion and mystical experiences, were widely celebrated during her lifetime and continue to be studied and appreciated today.

The name Rukaya also appears in various literary works and historical accounts from the Islamic world. For example, in the famous Arabic literary work "One Thousand and One Nights", there is a character named Rukaya who is known for her intelligence and wisdom.

Throughout history, the name Rukaya has been borne by numerous notable individuals, including scholars, mystics, poets, and historical figures, particularly within the Islamic tradition. It has maintained its significance and association with piety, devotion, and spiritual enlightenment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rukaya over time

The chart below shows babies named Rukaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Rukaya, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rukaya
02468199820112024

Decades

Rukaya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rukaya 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 #4843 8 2
2010s #4577 28 6
2000s #3864 16 4
1990s #3142 4 1

Related

Names similar to Rukaya

FAQ

Rukaya: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rukaya was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Rukaya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 8 babies registered as Rukaya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rukaya?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "high" or "lofty".

How many people are called Rukaya in the UK?

A total of 56 babies have been registered as Rukaya across the 13 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.