NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Ruqiya

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "charming" or "ascending".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ruqiya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ruqiya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 9 births.

This profile covers 85 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1997 to 2019. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 85 living people in the UK are called Ruqiya. 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 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ruqiya ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 9 girls were registered as Ruqiya.
  • About 85 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruqiya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5591

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2004

9 births

Estimated living

85

2026

Meaning

What does Ruqiya mean?

The name Ruqiya has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the Arabic root word "raqa," which means "to rise" or "to ascend." It is a feminine name closely associated with Islamic culture and tradition.

The earliest known usage of the name Ruqiya can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. In Islamic scriptures, Ruqiya is mentioned as a practice of reciting verses from the Quran or supplications as a form of spiritual healing and protection against harm or evil influences.

One of the most prominent historical figures bearing the name Ruqiya was Ruqayya bint Muhammad, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and his first wife, Khadija. She was born in 601 CE in Mecca and was highly revered for her piety and devotion to her faith. Sadly, she passed away at a young age in 624 CE.

Another notable figure was Ruqayya Sultana, the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who ruled over a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century. She was known for her intelligence, literary skills, and support for the arts and culture.

In the 12th century, Ruqayyah bint Ahmad Al-Suyuti was a renowned Islamic scholar and mystic from Egypt. She was widely respected for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the field of Sufism.

Ruqayya Al-Mosuli was a celebrated poet and calligrapher who lived in the 13th century in what is now modern-day Iraq. Her works were widely admired for their beauty and elegance, and she was considered a master of the Arabic language.

Ruqayyah Al-Baghdadiyyah was a notable female jurist and scholar from Baghdad who lived in the 12th century CE. She was known for her expertise in Islamic law and her teachings, which influenced many scholars of her time.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Ruqiya, which has a rich and significant heritage in Islamic culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ruqiya over time

The chart below shows babies named Ruqiya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ruqiya, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ruqiya
02579199720082019

Decades

Ruqiya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruqiya 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
2010s #4168 32 6
2000s #3459 45 8
1990s #3293 8 2

Related

Names similar to Ruqiya

FAQ

Ruqiya: questions and answers

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

In 2019, Ruqiya was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Ruqiya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 9 babies registered as Ruqiya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ruqiya?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "charming" or "ascending".

How many people are called Ruqiya in the UK?

A total of 85 babies have been registered as Ruqiya 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.