Rumi

Girl Name #1,722 Most Popular Hidden Gem 2 Syllables

The Sufi poet's name, now Jay-Z's daughter — beautifully universal

Japanese Persian American

Spiritual Elegant Literary Unique Sophisticated

Meaning & Origin

"lapis lazuli beauty"

Origin: Japanese 瑠美

Language: Japanese

"from Rome, Roman; the Anatolian"

Origin: Persian/Arabic Rum

Language: Persian

The Story of Rumi

Rumi carries beautiful meanings across two major cultures. In Japanese, Rumi (瑠美 or 瑠海) can mean 'lapis lazuli beauty' or 'lapis lazuli sea,' combining the beautiful blue stone with images of beauty or the ocean. In Persian, Rumi means 'from Rome/Anatolia' and was the sobriquet of the 13th-century Sufi poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (now known simply as Rumi), one of the most-read poets in the world.

Rumi's profile in Western culture has risen dramatically since Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their daughter Rumi Carter in 2017. The name was already beloved in Japan and among fans of Sufi poetry, but the celebrity naming brought it to mainstream American culture. It now sits at a beautiful intersection of Japanese femininity, Persian spirituality, and American cool.

The Persian poet Rumi (1207-1273) is one of history's greatest spiritual poets. His Masnavi, written in Persian, is sometimes called the Persian Quran. As a Japanese feminine name, Rumi has been popular for decades, particularly written with characters meaning 'lapis lazuli beauty.' The name effortlessly spans cultural boundaries.

Fun Facts

Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their daughter Rumi Carter, born in 2017, sending the name soaring
The Persian poet Rumi is one of the best-selling poets in the United States
In Japanese, the kanji for Rumi can mean 'lapis lazuli' — a precious deep blue stone associated with wisdom

Rumi in Other Languages

Arabic رومي

English Rumi

Persian رومی

Turkish Rumi

Japanese 瑠美

Famous People Named Rumi

Rumi Carter

Other

2017

Daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, whose naming brought global attention to this beautiful name

Rumi Hiiragi

Actor

1987

Japanese actress who voiced Chihiro in Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award-winning Spirited Away (2001)

Rumi (Jalāl ad-Dīn Rūmī)

Writer

1207

13th-century Persian-language Sufi mystic and poet, author of the Masnavi and one of the most-read poets in the world

Quick Facts

Gender: Girl
Syllables: 2
Popularity Rank: #1,722
Total SSA Count: 118
Cultural Origins: Japanese Persian American
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Rumani #1820 Rumaisa #4371 Rumaysa #4764

Pairs Well With

Rumi Jade Rumi Sky Rumi Rose Rumi Grace Rumi Pearl Rumi Sage Rumi Blue

Sibling Names

Seren Lyric Poet Orion Indigo Blaise Zephyr

Also a Boy Name

Rumi is also used as a boy name, ranked #2145.

View Rumi as a boy name →

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Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rumi

What does the name Rumi mean?

"lapis lazuli beauty" (from Japanese 瑠美). "from Rome, Roman; the Anatolian" (from Persian/Arabic Rum). Rumi carries beautiful meanings across two major cultures. In Japanese, Rumi (瑠美 or 瑠海) can mean 'lapis lazuli beauty' or 'lapis lazuli sea,' combining the beautiful blue stone with images of beauty or the ocean. In Persian, Rumi means 'from Rome/Anatolia' and was the sobriquet of the 13th-century Sufi poet Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (now known simply as Rumi), one of the most-read poets in the world.

What is the origin of the name Rumi?

Rumi has Japanese 瑠美, Persian/Arabic Rum, Japanese, Persian, and American origins. In Japanese 瑠美, it means "lapis lazuli beauty". In Persian/Arabic Rum, it means "from Rome, Roman; the Anatolian".

Is Rumi a boy or girl name?

Rumi is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #1722. As a boy name, it is ranked #2145. Rumi is more commonly used as a girl name.

How popular is the name Rumi?

Rumi is currently ranked #1722 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

What are good middle names for Rumi?

Popular middle name pairings include Rumi Jade, Rumi Sky, Rumi Rose, Rumi Grace, Rumi Pearl, Rumi Sage, and Rumi Blue.

What are good sibling names for Rumi?

Names that pair well with Rumi as siblings include Seren, Lyric, Poet, Orion, Indigo, Blaise, and Zephyr.

How many syllables does Rumi have?

Rumi has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Rumi a common or rare name?

Rumi is an uncommon name, ranked #1722 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.

About the Name Rumi

Rumi is a girl name with Japanese, Persian, and American origins . The name means "lapis lazuli beauty" in Japanese 瑠美 .

Is Rumi a boy or girl name? Rumi is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,722 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #2,145. Rumi is more commonly used as a girl name.

Rumi is currently ranked #1,722 in popularity for girl names in the United States.

The name Rumi has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Alternative spellings of Rumi include Rumani, Rumaisa, Rumaysa . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.