Explore the Family Name Rani
The meaning of Rani
Indian (southern states): from a personal name from Sanskrit rājñī ‘queen’. This name is often added to the personal name of Indian women, and is often a used as a surname in the absence of any other last name. It is not a traditional inherited surname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Rani in the United States?
The surname "Rani" saw a significant rise in popularity between 2000 and 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Rani was the 31,235th most popular surname but by 2010 it had jumped to the 19,189th position, reflecting a change of about 38.57%. In terms of occurrence, there were 702 instances of the surname in 2000 that rose dramatically to 1,415 in 2010 - a whopping increase of 101.57%. Similarly, its proportion per 100k people also approximately doubled during this period from 0.26 to 0.48.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #31,235 | #19,189 | 38.57% |
| Count | 702 | 1,415 | 101.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.26 | 0.48 | 84.62% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Rani
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Rani", the Decennial U.S. Census indicates some shifts. An overwhelming majority of individuals with the surname Rani identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in both 2000 (84.90%) and 2010 (92.79%), with an increase of around 9.29% over the decade. Meanwhile, the percentage identifying as two or more races dropped sharply from 8.12% to 1.98%, a decrease of 75.62%. The percentage of those who identify as White also decreased from 4.99% to 3.04%. Interestingly, while there were no individuals identifying as Hispanic or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2000, in 2010, these categories accounted for 0.92% and 0.64%, respectively. The proportion identifying as Black halved from 1.28% to 0.64%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 84.9% | 92.79% | 9.29% |
| White | 4.99% | 3.04% | -39.08% |
| Two or More Races | 8.12% | 1.98% | -75.62% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0.92% | 0% |
| Black | 1.28% | 0.64% | -50% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.64% | 0% |