Rehan
/ˈreɪ.hɑːn/noun
A personal name used in several cultures, especially as a form derived from Arabic Rayḥān.
Did you know?Arabic rayḥān refers to aromatic plants, especially basil, and is related to the Semitic idea of fragrance or pleasant scent; the name is also found in Islamic literary and devotional contexts.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*r-y-ḥ
“A reconstructed root associated with scent, fragrance, or pleasant smell.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
رَيْحَان (rayḥān)
“An aromatic plant or fragrant herb, commonly identified with basil.”
Medieval Persian
Persian
ریحان (reyḥān)
“Basil or another fragrant herb; also used as a personal name.”
Ottoman Turkish
Turkish
reyhan
“Basil, a strongly scented culinary and medicinal herb.”
Modern South Asian usage
English usage
Rehan
“A personal-name form related to Arabic Rayḥān and its Persian and South Asian variants.”