Rani is an Indian name meaning "queen," long used as a royal title and personal name.
Rani is a Sanskrit title and given name meaning 'queen' or 'princess,' the feminine form of Raja (king). For centuries it functioned as an honorific across the Indian subcontinent — a Rani was a ruling queen in her own right or the consort of a Raja — and the word permeates the history of Hindu and Sikh royal lineages. Among the most celebrated historical Ranis was Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, who led her kingdom's resistance against British annexation in the 1857 uprising and became one of the most enduring symbols of Indian nationalism and women's valor.
As a given name rather than a title, Rani carries that regal inheritance into everyday life. It is widely used across South Asia, the South Asian diaspora, and beyond, appearing in Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, and other traditions. In Hebrew, Rani also exists as a separate name meaning 'my song' or 'my joy,' giving it a dual etymology that resonates in Jewish communities as well.
In the contemporary West, Rani has gained favor among parents drawn to cross-cultural names that are both pronounceable and meaningful. Its brevity — two clean syllables — makes it internationally accessible, while its weight in South Asian history ensures it is never merely decorative. Rani is a name that expects something of its bearer: a quiet confidence, a sense that dignity is not performed but inhabited.