Girl and boy - R
By zolla
Updated Fri May 12 2023
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- Rahela
Description:
Rahela is a feminine name with Hebrew origins, being a variant of Rachel, which means 'ewe' or 'female sheep.' This beautiful name appears in the Bible as Jacob's beloved wife and has been used throughout many cultures with various spellings. Rahela is particularly common in Eastern European countries, especially Romania, Croatia, and Slovenia, as well as in Israel. The name carries connotations of feminine beauty, gentleness, and maternal care from its biblical associations. While not frequently used in English-speaking countries, where Rachel remains more popular, Rahela offers a more distinctive international flavor while maintaining recognizable roots. The name has a flowing, melodic quality with its three syllables and soft consonants.
- Raina
Origin:
Slavic and German variation of ReginaMeaning:
"queen"Description:
Strong and solid, with a touch of foreign intrigue, it's the most popular of the rain-related names, with a variety of pronunciations—RAY-na, rah-EE-na, or RY-na. Alternate spellings Reyna and Rayna currently rank higher in the US.
- Raisa
Origin:
Russian; Yiddish; ArabicMeaning:
"easygoing; rose; leader"Description:
Known in America via the wife of Soviet head Mikhail Gorbachev; a possibility for parents of Eastern-European descent wanting to move beyond Natasha and Nadia or for parents from the Middle East looking for a name that works in both cultures.
- Ramona
Origin:
Spanish, feminine variation of RamonMeaning:
"wise protector"Description:
Ramona is a sweet spot name – neither too trendy nor too eccentric. Kids will associate it with the clever Ramona Quimby character in the series of books by Beverly Cleary, also seen on TV. It was chosen by starcouple Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard for their little girl, who would be joined by sister Gloria.
- Raul
Origin:
Spanish variation of RalphMeaning:
"wolf counsel"Description:
Raul and French brother Raoul are much more appealing than flat-footed daddy Ralph. Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia, who starred in the Addams Family movies, brought fame to the name before his death in 1994.
- Ravi
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"sun; conferring"Description:
A title of the Hindu sun god, made cross-culturally famous by sitar player Ravi Shankar.
- Reva
Origin:
Hindi river name; HebrewMeaning:
"rain"Description:
Refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.
- Romeo
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"pilgrim to Rome, Roman"Description:
It wasn't so long ago that Romeo was considered as outre for an American baby as Casanova or Cupid. But that really changed when David and Victoria Beckham chose it for their second son in 2002, a path followed by Jon Bon Jovi.
- Rosemary
Origin:
Latin or EnglishMeaning:
"dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)"Description:
Despite appearances, Rosemary is not a "smoosh" name, not even a traditional one. The name derives from two Latin terms "Ros" meaning ‘dew’ and "Marinus" "meaning "of the sea". The plant was termed ‘dew of the sea’ due to its salty texture and its ability to thrive in coastal climes. Only after the Middle Ages did the English names of Rose and Mary become interchanged with the name Rosmarinus and give us the modern name we use today.
- Ruben
Origin:
Dutch; German; French; Italian, Polish; Swedish; Norwegian; Danish; Armenian, from HebrewMeaning:
"behold, a son"Description:
The streamlined Ruben is much more popular than the original Biblical Hebrew version in the US.
- Ruby
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"deep red precious stone"Description:
Vibrant, sassy, and bubbly, Ruby is a vintage gem that hasn't lost any of its sparkle. Currently popular in a number of English-speaking countries, Ruby is proof of the 100 Year Rule, trending again for the first time since its heyday in the 1910s.