Rihanna

Rihanna: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “sweet basil”
Origin: Arabic
Say it: ree-AN-uh · 3 syllables
Used for: Girls

Usually linked to Arabic Rayhanah/Rihana, meaning 'sweet basil' or 'fragrant herb.' The spelling Rihanna is also strongly associated with the Barbadian singer Rihanna.

Arabic names American names Names meaning flower Names meaning nature Names meaning beauty Modern names International names

How popular is Rihanna?

202435.0 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Rihanna in 2024115

2024 rank#1,759 girls

Peak year2008

Total US babies since 18806,527

Rihanna is fading: recent use is about 45% of its level ten years before.

Names like Rihanna

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Laylanight · Arabic
Lylanight · Arabic
Aaliyahexalted, rising · Arabic
Amiraprincess; commander · Arabic
Lilahnight · Arabic
Lilanight · Arabic
Nylaattainer; successful · Arabic
Zarablooming flower · Arabic

Rihanna questions

What does the name Rihanna mean?

Rihanna means "sweet basil". It comes from Arabic. Usually linked to Arabic Rayhanah/Rihana, meaning 'sweet basil' or 'fragrant herb.' The spelling Rihanna is also strongly associated with the Barbadian singer Rihanna.

Is Rihanna a boy or girl name?

Rihanna is mainly a girl's name in US records (100% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Rihanna?

115 US babies were named Rihanna in 2024. Its peak year was 2008.

How do you pronounce Rihanna?

Rihanna is usually pronounced ree-AN-uh.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.