Raj is a boys' name of Sanskrit origin, meaning “king, rule”, from Sanskrit raja. From Sanskrit raja 'king'; the British Raj was the period of British rule in India.

Raj

Gender: Boy
Say it: RAHJ
Origin: Sanskrit
US rank, 2025: #4,538 for boys

Raj is a boys' name of Sanskrit origin, meaning “king, rule”. In 2025 it ranked 4,538th for boys in the US (22 babies).

What does Raj mean?

Sanskrit: from Sanskrit raja

“king, rule”

From Sanskrit raja 'king'; the British Raj was the period of British rule in India.

Is Raj a girl's or a boy's name?

Raj is a boys' name. In 2025, it was given to 22 boys in the US. Too few girls were given it to be listed.

How popular is Raj in the UK?

No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 1996, with 25 boys.

Half of all the boys named Raj in the UK since 1996 were born between 1998 and 2011. It was already well used in 1996, when the records begin, so earlier boys aren't counted.

1996Busiest: 25 in 19962020

Raj in the UK, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2020	3	#4,803
2019	6	#3,184
2018	0	–
2017	3	#4,995
2016	5	#3,655
2015	8	#2,614
2014	10	#2,207
2013	5	#3,466
2012	6	#3,167
2011	14	#1,697
2010	6	#3,092
2009	6	#2,970
2008	11	#1,930
2007	8	#2,337
2006	8	#2,193
2005	14	#1,445
2004	9	#1,831
2003	10	#1,608
2002	12	#1,312
2001	9	#1,547
2000	8	#1,637
1999	11	#1,267
1998	18	#906
1997	17	#941
1996	25	#677

How popular is Raj in the US?

Rank in 2025: #4,538among boys
Babies in 2025: 22about 1 in 78,000 boys
Five-year trend: Steadydown 15% in five years
Same name in a class: under 1%chance among 15 boys

In 2025, 22 boys in the US were named Raj, making it the 4,538th most popular name for boys. Five years earlier, in 2020, it was 4,271st. Its busiest year was 2003, with 88 boys. It first appears in the records in 1950.

Half of all the boys named Raj in the US since 1880 were born between 1989 and 2009, the years shaded on the chart below.

1950Busiest: 88 in 20032025

Raj in the US, year by year

Year	Boys	Rank
2025	22	#4,538
2024	20	#4,886
2023	27	#3,999
2022	25	#4,180
2021	33	#3,424
2020	23	#4,271
2019	31	#3,568
2018	27	#3,887
2017	35	#3,248
2016	23	#4,326
2015	39	#2,965
2014	42	#2,803
2013	43	#2,713
2012	42	#2,810
2011	48	#2,546
2010	42	#2,825
2009	41	#2,893
2008	31	#3,483
2007	45	#2,684
2006	38	#2,931
2005	63	#1,979
2004	70	#1,782
2003	88	#1,476
2002	61	#1,847
2001	74	#1,596
2000	76	#1,560
1999	53	#1,855
1998	62	#1,663
1997	50	#1,856
1996	65	#1,530
1995	48	#1,796
1994	35	#2,254
1993	42	#1,928
1992	47	#1,773
1991	51	#1,626
1990	43	#1,804
1989	32	#2,148
1988	26	#2,300
1987	35	#1,826
1986	31	#1,915
1985	24	#2,225
1984	35	#1,655
1983	23	#2,207
1982	25	#2,110
1981	28	#1,941
1980	33	#1,726
1979	19	#2,464
1978	28	#1,834
1977	25	#1,948
1976	24	#1,998
1975	18	#2,360
1974	12	#2,944
1973	23	#1,870
1972	13	#2,658
1971	12	#2,811
1970	22	#1,888
1969	14	#2,307
1968	9	#2,906
1967	9	#2,759
1966	9	#2,783
1965	10	#2,615
1964	15	#2,113
1963	6	#3,645
1962	6	#3,638
1961	0	–
1960	0	–
1959	0	–
1958	0	–
1957	0	–
1956	0	–
1955	0	–
1954	0	–
1953	0	–
1952	0	–
1951	0	–
1950	5	#3,678

Names like Raj

Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.

Yuvraj Ravi Viraj Dhruv Shiv Veer Aarav Krish Aviraj Ansh Aj Vansh

Names related to Raj

Raja Rajah

More Sanskrit names

Maya Bodhi Arya Lila Arjun Rohan Kali Aryan Opal Arjan Vihaan Aadhya Avyaan Ishaan Siya Leena

Every Sanskrit name

Sources

Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland), Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency) and Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Raj: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/raj, updated 20 October 2026.