UK boy's name
Ajay
An Indian name of Sanskrit origin meaning "invincible, unconquerable, undefeated".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ajay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ajay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #826, with 39 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 97 births.
This profile covers 1,917 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,108 living people in the UK are called Ajay. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ajay ranked #826 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 39 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 97 boys were registered as Ajay.
- • Ajay ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #312 in 2023.
- • About 2,108 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ajay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#826
2024
Births in 2024
39
Latest year
Peak year
2002
97 births
Estimated living
2,108
2026
Meaning
What does Ajay mean?
The name Ajay has its origins in the Sanskrit language and is derived from the word "Ajaya," which means "invincible" or "unconquerable." It is a popular name in India, particularly among Hindus.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ajay can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas. In these sacred texts, the name is associated with various characters and deities, symbolizing strength, courage, and triumph over adversity.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Ajay was Ajay Chakravarti, a renowned Indian philosopher and scholar who lived during the 7th century CE. He made significant contributions to the field of logic and epistemology, and his works are still studied and revered within academic circles.
Another prominent figure was Ajay Devgn, an acclaimed Indian film actor, director, and producer. Born in 1969, Devgn has starred in numerous Bollywood films and has received several prestigious awards for his performances.
In the field of sports, Ajay Jadeja was a former Indian cricketer who played for the national team from 1992 to 2000. He was a versatile all-rounder and captained the Indian team in several matches.
Ajay Banga, born in 1960, is a renowned Indian-American business executive who currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mastercard Incorporated.
Ajay Naik, born in 1968, is an Indian businessman and the co-founder of Ola Cabs, one of the largest ride-sharing companies in India.
The name Ajay continues to be popular among Indian families, and its meaning of "invincible" and "unconquerable" resonates with many parents who wish to instill strength and resilience in their children from an early age.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ajay over time
The chart below shows babies named Ajay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ajay, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 39 births in 2024, compared with 97 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ajay by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ajay was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #823 | 194 | 5 |
| 2010s | #590 | 622 | 10 |
| 2000s | #367 | 859 | 10 |
| 1990s | #379 | 242 | 4 |
Geography
Where Ajay is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ajay. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Ajay ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #312 in 2023.
Across the UK
Ajay in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#619 in 2024
26 years of NRS records, 182 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#312 in 2023
7 years of NISRA records, 26 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ajay
-
Ajay Matthews
association football player
English footballer (born 2006)
2006-
-
Ajay Nayyar
actor; television actor
actor
1982-
-
Ajay Kakkar, Baron Kakkar
politician; surgeon
British surgeon (born 1964)
1964-
-
Ajay Pandey
English author
Related
Names similar to Ajay
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Ajay: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ajay in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ajay was ranked #826 for boys in England and Wales, with 39 births registered.
When was Ajay most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 97 babies registered as Ajay in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ajay?
An Indian name of Sanskrit origin meaning "invincible, unconquerable, undefeated".
How many people are called Ajay in the UK?
A total of 1,917 babies have been registered as Ajay across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 182 more in Scotland and 26 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Ajay most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Ajay ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #312 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.