UK girl's name
Rukhsar
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning beautiful face or bright cheeks.
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.
Rukhsar is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rukhsar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4564, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 29 births.
This profile covers 172 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 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 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 171 living people in the UK are called Rukhsar. 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
- • Rukhsar ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 29 girls were registered as Rukhsar.
- • About 171 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rukhsar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4564
2009
Births in 2009
4
Latest year
Peak year
1996
29 births
Estimated living
171
2026
Meaning
What does Rukhsar mean?
The given name Rukhsar has its origins in the Persian language, tracing back to ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) and the surrounding regions. The name is derived from the Persian words "rukh" meaning face or countenance, and "sar" meaning head or chief, collectively translating to "beautiful face" or "radiant countenance."
The name Rukhsar has been documented in various Persian literary works and historical records from the medieval period. One of the earliest references can be found in the epic poetry of Ferdowsi's "Shahnameh," considered the national epic of Greater Iran, composed between 977 and 1010 CE. The name also appears in several works of Sufi poetry and mystical literature, reflecting its association with beauty and grace.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rukhsar. One of the earliest recorded was Rukhsar Khanum (born in the late 16th century), a prominent Persian painter and calligrapher during the Safavid dynasty. Another notable figure was Rukhsar Begum (1610-1658), a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Jahangir.
In the realm of literature, Rukhsar was the name of a character in the famous Persian epic "Haft Paykar" (Seven Portraits) by the 12th-century poet Nizami Ganjavi. This fictional Rukhsar was renowned for her beauty and wisdom.
Moving to more recent times, Rukhsar Noor (1931-2010) was a celebrated Pakistani film actress and dancer, often referred to as the "Malika-e-Tarannum" or "Queen of Melody" for her contributions to Pakistani cinema and music.
Another prominent individual with this name was Rukhsar Sultana (1924-2001), an Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri recipient, renowned for her performances in the Khyal and Thumri genres.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have carried the name Rukhsar, a name that has been cherished for its beauty and grace, reflecting the cultural and literary heritage of the Persian-speaking world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rukhsar over time
The chart below shows babies named Rukhsar registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Rukhsar, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2009, compared with 29 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rukhsar by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rukhsar 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 | #2603 | 84 | 10 |
| 1990s | #978 | 88 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Rukhsar
- 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
Rukhsar: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rukhsar in the UK right now?
In 2009, Rukhsar was ranked #4564 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Rukhsar most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 29 babies registered as Rukhsar in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rukhsar?
A feminine name of Persian origin meaning beautiful face or bright cheeks.
How many people are called Rukhsar in the UK?
A total of 172 babies have been registered as Rukhsar across the 14 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.