UK girl's name
Ruwaida
A feminine Arabic name meaning "small pearl" or "little rose".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ruwaida is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ruwaida popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 12 births.
This profile covers 86 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2001 to 2023. 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 42% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 86 living people in the UK are called Ruwaida. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ruwaida ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 12 girls were registered as Ruwaida.
- • About 86 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ruwaida as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2010
12 births
Estimated living
86
2026
Meaning
What does Ruwaida mean?
The name Ruwaida has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with a first recorded usage dating back to the 7th century. It is derived from the Arabic word "rawda," which translates to "garden" or "meadow," signifying a connection to nature and greenery.
Historically, the name Ruwaida has been associated with various notable figures throughout the Arab world. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was Ruwaida bint Muawiya, a renowned poet and scholar who lived during the Umayyad Caliphate in the 7th century. Her works, which explored themes of love and spirituality, were highly regarded in her time.
Another prominent figure was Ruwaida al-Baghdadi, a 9th-century mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. She made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the study of algebra and geometry. Her work was influential in shaping the development of these disciplines during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the realm of literature, Ruwaida al-Andalusi was a notable poet and author from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain) in the 11th century. Her poetic works, which often celebrated the beauty of nature and explored themes of love and spirituality, were widely acclaimed during her lifetime.
Moving forward in history, Ruwaida al-Malikiyya was a 13th-century Sufi mystic and scholar from Damascus. She was renowned for her profound spiritual teachings and her contributions to the understanding of Islamic mysticism. Her writings and teachings continue to be studied and revered by Sufi practitioners to this day.
In more recent times, Ruwaida Attieh was a Lebanese writer and activist who lived from 1912 to 1992. She was a pioneering figure in the women's rights movement in Lebanon and played a significant role in advocating for gender equality and social justice through her literary works and activism.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Ruwaida throughout history, showcasing its diverse cultural and intellectual significance across various fields and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ruwaida over time
The chart below shows babies named Ruwaida registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ruwaida, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ruwaida by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ruwaida 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 | #3795 | 11 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4218 | 44 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3840 | 31 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Ruwaida
- 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
Ruwaida: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ruwaida in the UK right now?
In 2023, Ruwaida was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Ruwaida most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 12 babies registered as Ruwaida in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ruwaida?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "small pearl" or "little rose".
How many people are called Ruwaida in the UK?
A total of 86 babies have been registered as Ruwaida across the 17 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.