Ruhana

Ruhana is a feminine given name used across several cultures with Muslim and South Asian influences. The most common etymology traces to the Arabic word ruh, meaning "soul" or "spirit," with the feminine suffix -ana, a productive element in names in Persian, Urdu, and related languages. In these contexts, Ruhana is often interpreted as a reference to inner life or spirituality.

The name is found among speakers of Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Malay in Indonesia and Malaysia, and it appears in diasporic communities in Europe and North America. Pronunciation varies by language, but it is commonly pronounced as ru-HAH-nah or roo-HAH-nah in English contexts.

Ruhana is typically given to girls at birth, and as with many Arabic- and Persian-derived names, it may be chosen for its aesthetic sound as well as its meaning. Variants and closely related names include Ruhani and Ruhina, among others, which share the same root and similar connotations.

In cultural usage, Ruhana has appeared in literature and media in regions where Arabic- and Persian-derived naming traditions are common, though it should not be assumed to refer to any particular historical figure. The name's continued use reflects broader naming patterns that mix religious, linguistic, and aesthetic considerations in the regions where it is popular.