NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Rumi

A Persian name signifying "roamer" or "wanderer", connecting to the poet's metaphysical explorations.

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.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 151 girls.

Rumi is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rumi popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1132, with 25 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 33 births.

This profile covers 195 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 2009 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 76% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 194 living people in the UK are called Rumi. 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

  • Rumi ranked #1132 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 25 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 33 boys were registered as Rumi.
  • Rumi is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 194 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rumi as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 56.4% of Rumi registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1132

2024

Births in 2024

25

Latest year

Peak year

2023

33 births

Estimated living

194

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Rumi

In England and Wales birth records, Rumi has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 56.4% of registrations are for boys and 43.6% 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.

56% boys
44% girls
Boys195 (56.4%)Girls151 (43.6%)

Rumi registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,132 in 2024
  • 25 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (33 births)

Rumi registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,353 in 2024
  • 24 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (30 births)

Meaning

What does Rumi mean?

The name Rumi is derived from the Arabic word "Rumi," which means "Roman" or "from Rome." It is believed to have its origins in the Persian culture and language, particularly during the 13th century.

The most famous bearer of the name Rumi is Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a renowned Persian poet and Sufi mystic who lived from 1207 to 1273. Rumi's poetic works, such as the Masnavi and the Diwan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, have had a profound impact on Persian literature and Sufism.

Another notable figure named Rumi was Rumi Khan, a Pashtun ruler who established the Bhopal State in central India in the early 18th century. He played a significant role in the region's history and was known for his military prowess.

In the realm of literature, Rumi Hamid is a contemporary Kashmiri poet and writer who has contributed to the preservation and promotion of the Kashmiri language and culture through his works.

Rumi Hara, born in 1951, is a Japanese artist known for her intricate and detailed pen-and-ink drawings, often depicting natural elements and landscapes.

Rumi Missabu, born in 1886, was a Japanese novelist and poet active during the early 20th century. He is recognized for his contributions to the development of modern Japanese literature.

While the name Rumi has gained widespread recognition due to the fame of the Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, it has also been used in various cultures and regions, reflecting its diverse historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rumi over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rumi in England and Wales, from 2000 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 Rumi, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 25 births in 2024, compared with 33 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
016324763200020122024

Decades

Rumi by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rumi 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 #1260 112 5
2010s #3183 80 10
2000s #4527 3 1

Related

Names similar to Rumi

FAQ

Rumi: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rumi was ranked #1132 for boys in England and Wales, with 25 births registered.

When was Rumi most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 33 babies registered as Rumi in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rumi?

A Persian name signifying "roamer" or "wanderer", connecting to the poet's metaphysical explorations.

How many people are called Rumi in the UK?

A total of 195 babies have been registered as Rumi across the 16 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.