رقية

Rukia

girlSwahili form of Arabic Ruqayya

Rukia is a Muslim girl name meaning “Rising, ascending; gentle and refined”.

MeaningRising, ascending; gentle and refined
GenderGirl
OriginSwahili form of Arabic Ruqayya
Arabic spellingرقية
Pronunciationroo-KEE-ah
Arabic rootر ق ي (r-q-y) — to rise, to ascend
Muslim name?Islamic / Arabic name

Meaning and origin of Rukia

Rukia is the usual Swahili spelling of Ruqayya, a name usually explained from the Arabic root meaning to rise or ascend. Swahili drops the doubled consonant and the final -a softens into a simple ending, giving Rukia. Ruqayya was the name of a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who married ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, and the name has been honoured by Muslim families ever since.

Is Rukia a Muslim name?

Yes. Rukia is the East African form of Ruqayya, the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Where is the name Rukia used?

Very common among Muslim families in Tanzania, Kenya, Zanzibar and the Comoros.

Gifts with the name Rukia

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Spellings and variants of Rukia

RuqayyaRukayaRukiyaRoqayaRuqaiya

More girl names like Rukia

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Rukia mean?

Rukia means 'Rising, ascending; gentle and refined'. It comes from Swahili form of Arabic Ruqayya.

Is Rukia a Muslim name?

Yes. Rukia is the East African form of Ruqayya, the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

How do you write Rukia in Arabic?

Rukia is written رقية in Arabic script.

How do you pronounce Rukia?

Rukia is pronounced roo-KEE-ah.

Updated October 2026 · Researched by the Modern Muslim Names team. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.