Rehana is a feminine given name of Arabic origin, commonly used in Bengali and Urdu-speaking communities. It is the Bengali and Urdu form of Rayhana, an Arabic name meaning "basil." Sweet basil, a fragrant herb, has been symbolically significant in many cultures, often representing fragrance or beauty. The meaning of basil thus imbues the name with a sense of pleasantness and delicacy.
The name Rayhana, from which Rehana derives, carries major historical and religious significance, as it was the name of a wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Rayhana bint Zayd was a Jewish woman from the Banu Qurayza tribe who later converted to Islam and married the Prophet. Her story is recorded in early Islamic sources, though details are sometimes debated among scholars. The name therefore has a strong connection to early Islamic history and is revered in Muslim communities.
The root of the name is ḥamida, meaning "to praise," which is the root for the name Muhammad. The popularity of Muhammad deeply influenced Arabic naming conventions, leading to many derived forms, including Rayhana. The etymology suggests a link between the name Rehana and notions of praise or commendation through its ultimate origin in the same root.
Notable bearers of the name Rehana include Rehana Sultan, a prominent Indian actress who worked in Hindi and Malayalam cinema in the 1970s-1990s. She gained critical acclaim for her bold roles and was awarded the National Film Award for Best Actress for Dastak (1970). Many other individuals across South Asia and the Middle East have borne the name with such variants as Rihanna (widely known via the Barbadian singer), Rayhane, Reyhaneh, and Reyhan. This attests to the name's endurance and regional versatility.
Given its phonetic resemblance to the word "rehan" (basil in Persian), the name also reflects cross-cultural fertilization across Islamic societies. Its usage in Bangladesh and among Urdu-speakers in India and Pakistan indicates its integration into South Asian Muslim heritage.
- Meaning: Basil
- Origin: Arabic
- Type: First name, feminine
- Usage regions: Bengali- and Urdu-speaking Muslim communities
- Religious context: Named after a wife of the Prophet Muhammad