Rani

Often associated with the title ‘queen’ in South Asian contexts.

Rani is a short name with South Asian roots and a clear, widely recognized association: in many contexts it corresponds to a title meaning ‘queen’. Depending on region and language, it can appear as a title, a honorific, or a given name used in a name-like way. Etymologically, Rani is linked to Sanskrit and related languages where rāṇī is used for ‘queen’. Because the word is used across multiple languages and scripts in South Asia, spelling and usage can vary, and English-language spellings sometimes appear as Ranee. Pronunciation is usually RAH-nee, in two syllables. A practical tip is that the first vowel is commonly a short “ah” sound; keeping it simple (RAH-) helps it travel well across accents.

Etymology: From Sanskrit and related South Asian usage, where rāṇī is used as a title meaning ‘queen’; modern usage can be given-name-like in some regions.