Rihanna

Updated: Sept 2015

Rihanna ~ Sweet Basil ~ Arabic origins

Rihanna is a gorgeous name with superstar status. But before R&B singer Rihanna debuted her first album in mid-2005, the name was nowhere near the top 1,000 names in America. Today, along with the success of 10 Billboard chart-toppers and a Grammy, Rihanna has brought a relatively new name to our culture. And while most will associate the name with the singer, I think there is potential for it to make its own statement. Besides, it's my personal feeling that once you get to know a child, the associations you may have previously had with her name tend to diminish.

Meaning
Rihanna is an Arabic name meaning sweet basil. It also has similarities to the Welsh name Rhiannon, though that name has a completely separate story.

Popularity
I like Rihanna because the sound is beautiful, the meaning is cute, and it has a fresh quality. But because it's so strongly associated with the only-one-name needed star, it has potential to take a downward turn depending on how she's depicted in the media. And that's exactly what's happened with her name.

• Rihanna hit a peak in 2008, but for 2014 it's ranked at 956, and I expect it to drop out of the top 1,000 very soon.
• Similar sounding names with separate origins: Rhianna, Rhiannon, Brianna, Liana<
• Similar Arabic names: Amina, Quiana