In 2026, Ruby is the most popular girl’s name in the United States that starts with the letter R. I have selected an additional 210 old girl baby names that start with the letter R. Their meanings are also included.
List Of 210 Old and Unique Girl Names That Start With R & Meanings:
Rusudan
Rusudan (”the glory of the clan”) comes from the Republic of Georgia, not Georgia, USA.
Roxanne
”Radiant” or ”bright,” and it comes from the Old Persian ”Raṷxšnā.” It is speculated to be connected with the Greek Ῥωξάνη. Rhōxanē. Roxana was a princess who married Alexander the Great, a king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia.
Rue
”Regret,” and the youngest tribute of The Hunger Games.
Romilda
”Famous battle.”
Roimata
Tears.
Feminine fantasy R names:
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Rapunzel | rampion | ruh-PUN-zul |
| Rinoa | invented, sound only | rih-NOH-ah |
| Rey | ”king” | RAY |
| Rogue | the outlaw | ROHG |
| Renesmee | coined, Renée and Esmé | ruh-NEZ-may |
| Ramoth | ”heights.” | RAY-moth |
| Rarity | uncommon | RAIR-ih-tee |
| Rhaenyra | invented, sound only | ray-NEER-uh |
| Ryuko | dragon child | RYOO-koh |
| Riza | ”contentment” | REE-zah |
| Rhyme | verse, or harmony | RYME |
| Rukia | invented, sound only | ROO-kee-ah |
| Relm | coined, from realm | RELM |
| Raven | ”dark bird.” | RAY-vun |
| Rydia | invented, sound only | RID-ee-ah |
The list continues.
Rubena
”Ruby.”
Rihanna
With Irish origins, Rihanna is interpreted as “divine queen,” you know like every baby girl should be. It exploded in popularity in the US as Barbadian singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty released more and more songs and albums.
Reyes
”Kings”. Seville celebrates its patroness as the Virgin of the Kings.
Radoslava
Joy and glory.
Rashida
From Arabic, rightly guided.
Radojka
“Joyful” or “happy,” Radojka has Proto-Slavic roots.
Rosabel
“Rose flower.”
Roswitha
Roswitha is from the German culture and is symboizing ‘famous strength.’
Rosamund
It is made of the Germanic elements ”hros” (horse) and ”mund” (protection). It is one of my favorites from this list. It is also the name of the wife of Alboin, who was king of the Lombards for 12 years. English actress Rosamund John starred in the drama When the Bough Breaks.
Randgríðr
From Old Norse, shield-breaker.
Rostislava
It combines rost, growth, with slava, glory.
Rahaf
”Delicate.”
Japanese girl names with R:
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Rin | dignified | RIN |
| Ruri | ”lapis lazuli” | ROO-ree |
| Ran | the orchid | RAHN |
| Ritsuko | child of law | ree-TSOO-koh |
| Rikka | snowflake, poetically | REEK-kah |
| Reiko | ”beautiful child.” | RAY-koh |
| Rio | jasmine center | REE-oh |
| Ruka | flower of lapis | ROO-kah |
| Rui | affection, or kinship | ROO-ee |
| Rina | ”jasmine” | REE-nah |
| Ryoko | good child | RYOH-koh |
| Ryoka | cool flower | RYOH-kah |
| Rei | graceful, or zero | RAY |
| Risa | ”pear blossom.” | REE-sah |
| Reika | lovely bloom | RAY-kah |
Scroll for more.
Renu
Pollen.
Rhonda
Welsh Rhonda means ”tumultuous.” American professor Rhonda M. Williams worked at the University of Texas at Austin.
Rya
Rya (“little ruler”) is an anglicisation of Ó Riaghain.
Rhodopis
“Rosy-cheeked.”
Rubi
Rubi has its origins in the Latin word “ruber” which is “red” in English. Other possible meanings are “red stone” or “red gemstone.” It grew in popularity after Rubi Rose signed with Josh Marshall’s Mogul Vision.
Rathnait
It is made of rath, grace, with a feminine diminutive.
Raha
Free.
Rory
”Red king,” and the bookish daughter of Gilmore Girls.
Ruixue
From Chinese, auspicious snow.
Ragnhild
Ragnhild (“wise battle”) is the name of Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen, the sister of King Harald V.
Rangda
Rangda (”widow”) is the demon queen who battles the lion Barong in Balinese dance.
Rima
”White antelope,” as well as a bird-girl of the forest in Green Mansions.
Remigia
From Latin remex, oarsman.
Female pretty names that start with R:
| Name | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Rilla | brook | RIL-uh |
| Reverie | ”daydream” | REV-uh-ree |
| Rimona | the pomegranate | ree-MOH-nah |
| Riviera | coast, in Italian | riv-ee-AIR-uh |
| Rahima | she is merciful | rah-HEE-mah |
| Rhapsody | ”stitched song.” | RAP-suh-dee |
| Roshni | light | ROHSH-nee |
| Rosmerta | provider of plenty | roz-MER-tah |
| Riona | queenly, or regal | ree-OH-nuh |
| Ruelle | ”little street” | roo-EL |
| Ramya | pleasing | RAHM-yah |
| Remedios | remedies, in Spanish | reh-MEH-dyohs |
| Ruhi | she is spiritual | ROO-hee |
| Romilly | ”from Rome.” | roh-MIL-ee or ROM-ih-lee |
| Rasa | morning dew | RAH-sah |
Even more below.
Rengin
Colorful.
Ryker
”Rich.” Ryker comes from the Old Norse ”Rýkr.” Yes, Ryker is another one from Viking that I have included.
Reginleif
It is made of regin, the gods, and leif, heir.
Rufaro
Happiness.
Rain
From Old English regn, rain.
Rumbidzai
From Shona, praise.
Remington
Remington, “from the raven’s home,” is another one with R that you may find interesting. In case you didn’t know, Remington & Sons manufactured the world’s first effective typewriter.
Reparata
”Restored,” and Florence’s first cathedral, Santa Reparata, lies under the Duomo.
Ranim
It is Arabic for a gentle melody.
Rong
Glory.
Rati
”Desire,” and a Hindu goddess of love, wife of Kama.
Romina
Romina (“from Rome”) is an Italian name that I find interesting.
Rolanda
It is made of hrod, fame, and land, territory.
Ruyi
”As you wish,” and a scepter Chinese scholars gave as a blessing.
Rehema
”Compassion.”
Rashmi
From Sanskrit rashmi, a ray of light.
Rónait
Seal.
Reese
”Enthusiasm.” Reese is an anglicised form of the Welsh Rhys.
Robin
“Bright fame.”
Reagan
It (“noble”) is the name of the 40th president of the United States. Reagan advocated a laissez-faire philosophy and believed in tax cuts. He left the presidency at the age of 77.
Riko
It is Japanese and means ”white jasmine.” Badminton player Riko Gunji secured her first BWF World Tour title in 2024.
Riri
”Pear tree.”
Ririka
Ririka has several possible meanings, including: “flower/blossom” or “jasmine fragrance.” I appreciate names of flowers for baby girls, and Ririka is unique.
Ripley
”Strip of clearing,” and the alien-fighting officer Ellen Ripley made it fierce.
Richenza
Richenza (”powerful”) was crowned Holy Roman Empress beside Lothair III.
Rakefet
Cyclamen.
Rudo
”Love.”
Ramona
Ramona is the feminine form of Ramon that is from the Latin word ramus (”twig”). American cyclist Ramona d’Viola competed with success in the 2nd Women’s Tour de France.
Restituta
”Restored.”
Rupali
”Beautiful”.
Rúna
From Old Norse rún, secret lore.
Ricarda
Powerful ruler.
Renata
Renata (”born again”) suits a family of born-again Christians. The term born again has its origin in the New Testament. Renata Burgos represented Brazil at the Summer Olympics in Athens.
Rudabeh
Rudabeh (”shining child”) let her hair as a rope for her lover in the Shahnameh.
Regla
”Rule”. Havana’s Virgin of Regla watches over sailors.
Ridhi
Prosperity.
Rutendo
Faith.
Rosalia
It probably has its origins in the Roman festival of roses, Rosalia. Meaning ”rose,” it is also linked with Saint Rosalia, a hermit on Monte Pellegrino.
Rie
Blessing.
Ruoxi
”Like the dawn.”
Ranjana
From Sanskrit ranj, to delight.
Rawiya
Storyteller.
Rhea
Rhea comes from the Greek word rhe (”to flow”).
Raya
In Hindi Raya means ”flow,” while in Hebrew is ”friend.” What more can you ask for a better name? It is also found in Arabic, ”perfume.”
Rufina
Red-haired.
Rozhin
Sunlight.
Raukura
”Plume,” as well as there are white feathers worn at Parihaka as a sign of peace.
Raghad
”Pleasant life.”
Rosalind
Rosalind has roots in the Old German hros “horse” and lind “soft, tender.” During the Middle Ages, the spelling drifted to Latin rosa linda that is synbolizing “beautiful rose,” which is how most people read it now.
Rowena
Rowena is from Old English hroð “fame” and wynn “joy.”
Rhiannon
Rhiannon comes from the Celtic title Rigantona, “great queen” or “divine queen.”
Róisín
Róisín is Irish for “little rose” and is also a diminutive of Róis. It is pronounced roe-SHEEN.
Revati
”Wealthy.” Revati was a princess who married Balarama after shrinking to his height.
Rumaisa
It is an Arabic diminutive of rumsa, beauty and the title of a woman companion of the Prophet.
Ramunė
Chamomile.
Rezzan
”Dignified.”
Rosetta
Rosetta is an Italian pet form of Rosa, “little rose.”
Regina
Regina is Latin for “queen.”
Rani
Rani has Sanskrit origins and means “queen.” It is the feminine variant of the title Rana.
Rochelle
”Little rock.”
Rabab
Rabab is the bowed lute of Arab and Persian music.
Ranavalona
Ranavalona (”folded royal”) ruled Madagascar for 33 years and expelled foreign missionaries.
Rishika
”Saintly.”
Radha
In Hindu tradition, Radha (prosperity) and Krishna are worshipped together.
Rauni
Rauni is the Finnish thunder goddess, her title has origins in rowan.
Rutilia
From Latin rutilus, glowing red.
Rekha
”Line.”
Rusalka
”Water spirit,” and Dvořák’s opera character who sings the Song to the Moon.
Rukmini
“Adorned with gold” in Sanskrit. In the Puranas Rukmini is the princess of Vidarbha who writes to Krishna.
Rudrani
It is a title of the goddess Parvati, wife of Rudra.
Ragna
“Counsel” or “the ruling powers, the gods.” Ragna Árnadóttir served as Iceland’s Minister of Justice for less than 2 years.
Rajaa
Hope.
Ronja
“Lake by the hill.” Astrid Lindgren used it in her 1981 book Ronja Rövardotter.
Rhedyn
Fern.
Randa
A fragrant desert tree.
Reva
”Swift,” and a Sanskrit moniker for the Narmada river.
Rodica
It comes from Romanian rod, fruit, for a fruitful girl.
Rumer
“Gypsy.” Rumer Willis is the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. She won season 20 of Dancing with the Stars in 2015.
Redempta
Redeemed.
Rindr
”Bark.”
Rowan
”Little red one,” as well as a tree that is hung over doors against witches.
Riham
From Arabic, a light drizzle.
Rita
Rita is a short form of Margarita, “pearl.” Saint Rita of Cascia is remembered on 22 May.
Raziya
”Content.” Razia Sultana was the only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate.
Ruwaida
From Arabic, gentle walk.
Ragini
Melody.
Rooney
”Red-haired.”
Ravenna
Ravenna is as the Italian city that served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.
Róta
”Sleet.”
Riley
Rye clearing.
Radmila
It combines rad, glad, with mila, dear.
Rawda
”Garden.”
Raisa
In Yiddish Raisa is linked to roiz, “rose” while in Greek is “easygoing.”
Rafaela
Rafaela is Hebrew and is symbolizing “God has healed.” It is the feminine of Raphael. In 2016 Brazilian judoka Rafaela Silva won Olympic gold in Rio.
Rangoli
”Row of colors.” Rangoli is also a powder art laid on doorsteps for Diwali.
Rutuja
Seasons.
Radegund
Radegund (”counsel battle”) left a Frankish king’s court to found a convent at Poitiers.
Rotem
”Broom shrub,” and the desert bush Elijah slept under while fleeing.
Rana
”Eye-catching” or “lovely to look at.” In South Asia, Rana is a male title meaning “king.”
Rasika
Connoisseur.
Rafif
”Shimmer.”
Ruslana
It comes from Ruslan, and Ukraine’s Ruslana won Eurovision.
Reshma
From Hindi resham, silk.
Rosemary
Rosemary comes from the Latin ros marinus, “dew of the sea.”
Ronit
”Song.”
Ruvimbo
Hope.
Rocío
”Dew”. El Rocío pilgrimage draws about a million people to Andalusia each spring.
Ruqayya
Ruqayya (”gentle”) was a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.
Rumi
In Japanese Rumi means “beauty” or “lapis lazuli.” In 2017 Beyoncé and Jay-Z chose it for their daughter.
Rusla
”The red one.”
Rudolfina
Famous wolf.
Rabia
Rabia (”spring”) of Basra was the first woman mystic of Islam.
Rajkumari
Princess.
Rhoswen
Rhoswen (”white rose”) is made from the Welsh elements rhos “rose” and gwen “white, fair.”
Rimjhim
”Patter of rain.”
Rasha
Young gazelle.
Rotraud
”Fame and strength”. Charlemagne’s daughter Rotrude was engaged to a Byzantine emperor.
Rohini
From Sanskrit, red, the Hindu term for the star Aldebaran.
Ritva
”Birch shoot.”
Rajani
”Night.”
Rannveig
It combines rann, house, with veig, strength.
Rawan
From Arabic, a tall tree.
Rangimarie
From Maori rangi, sky, and marie, peace.
Ruolan
Like an orchid.
Rachana
”Creation.”
Rictrude
It combines ric, power, with trud, strength.
READ MORE: Female Viking Warrior Names
Girl Names That Start With R In The Bible
Rebecca
The Hebrew Rebecca is “to bind” in English. In the Bible Rebecca is the mother of Jacob and Esau. She was buried in the Cave of Machpelah near Mamre.
Rachel
Rachel, the favorite of Jacob’s two wives, is a woman that was first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 29. ”While he was still talking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherd.” It means “ewe.” She is referred to as “Mamma Rochel” and is one of the four mothers of the Jewish people
Ruth
“Mercy.” Her story is detailed in The Book of Ruth.
Rahab
In the Bible Rahab (“broad” or “spacious”) is a Canaanite woman living in Jericho. Her actions led to the fall of Jericho. In the New Testament, Rahab is an example of a person of faith.
Rhoda
Rhoda (“rose” in Greek) is mentioned in the Bible, Acts 12:12–15.
Reaiah
”Vision of the Lord.”
Reumah
Reumah is a concubine of Nahor and is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. The Book of Genesis is the first book of the Hebrew Bible. Reumah is “exalted” in Hebrew.
Rizpah
“Hot stone.” In the Bible, Rizpah is a widow, a former concubine of King Saul.
Remaliah
“Yahweh has adorned.”
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