NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Ruman

A Persian masculine name meaning "wisdom" or "philosopher".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 11 girls.

Ruman is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Ruman popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 8 births.

This profile covers 32 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 32 living people in the UK are called Ruman. 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 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ruman ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 8 boys were registered as Ruman.
  • Ruman is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 32 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruman as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 74.4% of Ruman registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4001

2022

Births in 2022

4

Latest year

Peak year

1996

8 births

Estimated living

32

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Ruman

In England and Wales birth records, Ruman has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 74.4% of registrations are for boys and 25.6% 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.

74% boys
26% girls
Boys32 (74.4%)Girls11 (25.6%)

Ruman registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,001 in 2022
  • 4 boys registered in 2022
  • Peak: 1996 (8 births)

Ruman registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,171 in 2012
  • 5 girls registered in 2012
  • Peak: 2012 (5 births)

Meaning

What does Ruman mean?

The name Ruman is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was predominant in the Indian subcontinent. The root of the name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "ruh," which means "to grow" or "to rise," and "man," which means "mind" or "spirit." Thus, the name Ruman could be interpreted to mean something along the lines of "one whose mind or spirit grows or rises."

While the exact origins of the name are somewhat uncertain, it is believed to have been in use in various parts of the Indian subcontinent for centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, where a character named Ruman is mentioned.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ruman. One of the most famous was Ruman Khan (1644-1718), a Mughal general and governor who served under the Mughal emperors Aurangzeb and Bahadur Shah I. He played a significant role in the military campaigns of the Mughal Empire and was known for his strategic acumen and bravery on the battlefield.

Another prominent figure was Ruman Srivastava (1920-1998), an Indian politician and freedom fighter who actively participated in the Indian independence movement against British rule. He was a member of the Indian National Congress and served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the country's constitution.

In the realm of literature, Ruman Rakshit (1927-2003) was a renowned Bengali poet, novelist, and essayist. He was a recipient of several prestigious literary awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award, and his works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Ruman Farooqi (1925-2009) was a Pakistani actor and director who made significant contributions to the Pakistani film industry. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Pakistani cinema and is best known for his roles in classic films such as "Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi" and "Intezar."

Lastly, Ruman Rashid (born 1963) is a contemporary Indian writer and journalist known for his works on social and political issues. He has authored several books, including "The Wildest Dream" and "The Land of Lost Content," which explore themes of identity, displacement, and the human experience.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ruman over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ruman in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ruman, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
02468199620092022

Decades

Ruman by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruman 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 #4001 4 1
2000s #2435 17 3
1990s #2201 11 2

Related

Names similar to Ruman

FAQ

Ruman: questions and answers

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

In 2022, Ruman was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Ruman most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 8 babies registered as Ruman in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ruman?

A Persian masculine name meaning "wisdom" or "philosopher".

How many people are called Ruman in the UK?

A total of 32 babies have been registered as Ruman across the 6 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.