Rehana

Meaning of Rehana

Rehana is a feminine forename of Arabic provenance, derived from the triliteral root R-Y-Ḥ, which denotes a fragrant herb—typically basil—and, by extension, conveys the notion of “sweet-scented” or “aromatic,” a semantic field that resonates with paradisiacal garden imagery in classical Arabic literature. Its adoption extends across Arabic-speaking and Bengali communities, and in English it is customarily rendered reh-HAH-nah (/rɛˈhɑːnə/), preserving the original stress pattern. According to Social Security Administration records, Rehana has maintained a marginal yet persistent presence within the top 1,000 U.S. female names since its first appearance, attaining a peak rank of 789 in 1985 and subsequently oscillating within the 800–950 range; as of 2022, seven newborns bore the name, corresponding to rank 937. This trajectory indicates a measured diffusion into Anglo-American naming practices, reflecting a preference among a select cohort of parents for a name that marries linguistic precision and cultural heritage.

Pronunciation

Arabic,Bengali

• Pronunced as reh-HAH-nah (/rɛˈhɑːnə/)

• Rihanna
• Rihana
• Rayhana
• Rihannah
• Rehanna