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Though spelling of names is conventional, the Hindi spelling of this name on this site is not the original one, and would be considered incorrect by many. It is usually spelt with a short -i rather than the long one shown on this site.
There are a group of words in Sanskrit that seem derived from a nonexistent root rash, and that have to do with rope, tying, encircling, or enumerating. rashmi in particular meant a string or rope, a bridle, leash, goad, or a whip; and this sense of rope, especially one for measuring out lengths, goes all the way back to the Rgveda.
There seems to have been an ancient Indian metaphor connecting weaving or rope with the rays of the sun. Because of that, many words for rope, including rashmi, came to mean a ray in general, or by extension, brilliance or splendour. (It has a few other rare meanings in Sanskrit.) This (i.e. a ray of light) is the meaning that has survived in Hindi (and many other modern Indian languages) and is most commonly associated with the name. The use as a name is rather modern. The Sanskrit word was usually masculine, but in the modern Indian usage it is a girl's name.
Incidentally, the other name praba might also be derived from the Sanskrit word prabhA (The poster does not give linguistic, ethnic, or religious background: so it is difficult to say. But a derivation through a Dravidian language like Tamil would make this likely). prabhA comes from the prefix pra- (forth) on the root bhA (appear, shine; ultimately related to the English root of banner), the combination used as a feminine noun; it also means light, beauty, etc., and has been used as a name for more than two millenia.
There are a group of words in Sanskrit that seem derived from a nonexistent root rash, and that have to do with rope, tying, encircling, or enumerating. rashmi in particular meant a string or rope, a bridle, leash, goad, or a whip; and this sense of rope, especially one for measuring out lengths, goes all the way back to the Rgveda.
There seems to have been an ancient Indian metaphor connecting weaving or rope with the rays of the sun. Because of that, many words for rope, including rashmi, came to mean a ray in general, or by extension, brilliance or splendour. (It has a few other rare meanings in Sanskrit.) This (i.e. a ray of light) is the meaning that has survived in Hindi (and many other modern Indian languages) and is most commonly associated with the name. The use as a name is rather modern. The Sanskrit word was usually masculine, but in the modern Indian usage it is a girl's name.
Incidentally, the other name praba might also be derived from the Sanskrit word prabhA (The poster does not give linguistic, ethnic, or religious background: so it is difficult to say. But a derivation through a Dravidian language like Tamil would make this likely). prabhA comes from the prefix pra- (forth) on the root bhA (appear, shine; ultimately related to the English root of banner), the combination used as a feminine noun; it also means light, beauty, etc., and has been used as a name for more than two millenia.
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names meanings differ from one region, country, and culture to another. Most names came from ancient beliefs while most of the names today are becoming more profound and independent.
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