Rani: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,528

among girls · ↑467 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Rani · +15% vs 2024

How common

1 in 51,847

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1979

50 babies

All-time total

2,126

#4,839 all-time among girls

First recorded

1946

in Social Security records

Rani popularity over time

2,126 babies have been named Rani since 1946, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	23	–	23	2	–	#3,945
1950s	50	–	50	5	+117%	#3,634
1960s	152	–	152	15	+204%	#2,340
1970s	377	7	384	38	+153%	#1,959
1980s	264	27	291	29	-24%	#2,480
1990s	331	43	374	37	+29%	#2,787
2000s	309	69	378	38	+1%	#3,642
2010s	231	48	279	28	-26%	#4,420
2020s (to 2025)	174	21	195	33	+16%	#3,989

Where Rani is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 girls (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 girls	Implied rank
2026	32	0.02	outside top 500
2027	32	0.02	outside top 500
2028	33	0.02	outside top 500
2029	33	0.02	outside top 500
2030	33	0.02	outside top 500

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.

How old are people named Rani?

The median living Rani is about 31 years old; half are between 17 and 47. An estimated 2,100 people named Rani are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Rani Mukerji Indian actress (born 1978) Contemporary
2 Rani of Jhansi Prominent leader of the 1857 Indian rebellion 1828–1858 · 19th century
3 Rani Padmini Queen of Mewar (c. 13-14th century) Medieval
4 Rani Khedira Footballer (born 1994) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Rani, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Rani?

The median living Rani is about 31 years old. Half of all living Ranis are between 17 and 47 years old.

How many people named Rani are alive today?

An estimated 2,100 people named Rani are alive in the United States, based on 2,126 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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.

Will Rani become more popular?

Rani is trending upward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 33 girls named Rani in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Rani?

Well-known people named Rani include Rani Mukerji (actor), Rani of Jhansi (politician), Rani Padmini (politician).

Names like Rani

Names that sound and feel close to Rani: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Rani with similar names → More names starting with R →