Rani
From Sanskrit राज्ञी (rājñī, “a queen, princess, the wife of a king”), through Hindi रानी (rānī).
Every Rani since 1946 — 2,126 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rani
Rani is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,528 in 2025 with 31 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1946, 2,126 American babies have been named Rani — about 90% girls and 10% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1979, when 50 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1970s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rani stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rani year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | #4,528 | — | — |
| 2024 | 27 | #4,995 | — | — |
| 2023 | 25 | #5,226 | — | — |
| 2022 | 26 | #5,139 | 7 | #10,606 |
| 2021 | 29 | #4,707 | 7 | #10,543 |
| 2020 | 36 | #3,989 | 7 | #10,352 |
| 2019 | 32 | #4,420 | — | — |
| 2018 | 19 | #6,466 | 9 | #8,671 |
| 2017 | 16 | #7,363 | 5 | #13,796 |
| 2016 | 25 | #5,419 | 7 | #10,486 |
| 2015 | 18 | #6,928 | — | — |
| 2014 | 29 | #4,874 | 14 | #6,230 |
| 2013 | 29 | #4,858 | 7 | #10,478 |
| 2012 | 27 | #5,220 | — | — |
| 2011 | 15 | #8,117 | — | — |
| 2010 | 21 | #6,337 | 6 | #11,856 |
| 2009 | 25 | #5,671 | 5 | #14,029 |
| 2008 | 34 | #4,530 | — | — |
| 2007 | 34 | #4,448 | 5 | #13,936 |
| 2006 | 27 | #5,194 | 6 | #11,720 |
| 2005 | 37 | #3,930 | 10 | #7,529 |
| 2004 | 22 | #5,711 | 10 | #7,395 |
| 2003 | 37 | #3,794 | 10 | #7,123 |
| 2002 | 27 | #4,590 | 6 | #10,371 |
| 2001 | 30 | #4,179 | 9 | #7,385 |
| 2000 | 36 | #3,642 | 8 | #8,028 |
| 1995 | 34 | #3,343 | 12 | #5,051 |
| 1990 | 32 | #3,418 | 8 | #6,281 |
| 1985 | 30 | #3,063 | 5 | #7,341 |
| 1980 | 37 | #2,579 | — | — |
| 1975 | 32 | #2,494 | — | — |
| 1970 | 38 | #2,148 | — | — |
| 1965 | 15 | #3,373 | — | — |
| 1960 | 5 | #7,088 | — | — |
| 1955 | 6 | #5,693 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Rani
- Rani of Jhansi Politician · 1828–1858
- Rani Padmini Politician
- Rani Mukerji Actor · b. 1978
- Rani Khedira Soccer player · b. 1994
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rani mean?
From Sanskrit राज्ञी (rājñī, “a queen, princess, the wife of a king”), through Hindi रानी (rānī).
How popular is the name Rani in 2025?
Rani ranked #4,528 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 31 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rani?
2,126 babies have been named Rani in the United States since 1946, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rani most popular?
Rani peaked in 1979, when 50 newborns received the name.
Is Rani a boy or girl name?
Rani is used for both: about 90% of babies named Rani have been girls and 10% boys.
Is the name Rani rising or falling?
Rani is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Rani?
Well-known people named Rani include Rani of Jhansi (politician), Rani Padmini (politician), Rani Mukerji (actor).