US Popularity Rank: 12043

Origin: Celtic

Meaning: Great queen

Rhiane is a Celtic name that effortlessly captures nobility and striking beauty like no other. This contemporary charm is rooted in the Irish word rígain meaning "great queen." Some trace its origins to the Old Celtic Rigantona, notably associated with a goddess of fertility in Celtic Mythology. Rigantona later became intertwined with Rhiannon in medieval Welsh tales. Rhiannon, a prominent figure in medieval romance literature, was pivotal in inspiring the character of Thomas the Rhymer's Queen of Elfland and later in John Keats' La Belle Dame Sans Merci. Rhiane can also serve as a beautiful nickname for Rhiannon, a name that gained popularity through Fleetwood Mac's iconic song.