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Rana

Girl name · Arabic

Meaninglovely to gaze at · Arabic

Rana is an Arabic girl name meaning “lovely to gaze at”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • GenerationRana peaked in 1971, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Rana you'd meet today is about 54 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Rana would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 32,154 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryRana first shows up in US birth records in 1942, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 83 years since.
  • Boy or girlRana truly works for either: 77% of the 65 babies named Rana in 2025 were girls, the rest boys.
Baby girl in a white dress sitting in the grass
hello, little Rana

US births per million girls, 1942–2025

040801942196020002025

Similar names

Girl name: ElianaGirl name: LilianaUnisex name: ArianaGirl name: EllianaGirl name: AlanaGirl name: Aitana
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Rana

Rana is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “lovely to gaze at”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

Other spellings of Rana

Girl name: Ranna

More Arabic girl names

Questions about the name Rana

What does the name Rana mean?

Rana means “lovely to gaze at” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Lovely (“lovely”), Tegan (“fair, lovely”), Rena (“often lovely”) and Caoimhe (“gentle, lovely”).

What is the origin of the name Rana?

Rana is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).

Is Rana a boy or girl name?

Rana is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year. In 2025, 50 US girls were named Rana.

How popular is the name Rana?

Rana ranked #3,167 for US girls in 2025, given to 50 babies. Its best year was 1971, when it reached #1,026. Over the last five years it has slipped 76 places.

What names are similar to Rana?

If you like Rana, you might also like Ranna, Lovely, Tegan, Rena and Caoimhe. Ranna is another spelling of the same name.

What should I know before naming my baby Rana?

Rana is an Arabic girl name meaning “lovely to gaze at”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.