UK boy's name
Navtej
A masculine Indian name derived from Sanskrit meaning "bright moon".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Navtej is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Navtej popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2493, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 8 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2012 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.
Navtej is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Navtej. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Navtej ranked #2493 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 8 boys were registered as Navtej.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Navtej as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2493
2021
Births in 2021
8
Latest year
Peak year
2021
8 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Navtej mean?
Navtej is a name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit words "nav" meaning "new" and "tej" meaning "radiance" or "brilliance." The name is believed to have originated during the ancient Vedic period, around 1500-500 BCE, when Sanskrit was the primary language of the Indian subcontinent.
The name Navtej is often associated with the Sikh faith, as it is a common name among Sikhs. In Sikhism, the name is interpreted as "new light" or "new radiance," symbolizing the spiritual enlightenment and divine knowledge that Sikhs strive for. The name has been mentioned in various Sikh scriptures and historical texts, such as the Guru Granth Sahib and the Suraj Prakash Granth.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Navtej can be traced back to the 16th century, during the reign of the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606). Navtej was a prominent Sikh scholar and poet who contributed to the compilation of the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Navtej. Navtej Singh Sarna (1935-2006) was an acclaimed Indian diplomat and author who served as the Indian Ambassador to various countries, including the United States and Israel. Navtej Singh Sidhu (born 1963) is a former Indian cricketer and politician who has served as a member of the Indian Parliament.
Navtej Johar (born 1972) is an Indian fashion designer and entrepreneur, known for her contemporary and sustainable fashion label. Navtej Sarna (born 1957) is an Indian writer, diplomat, and the author of several books, including "The Book of Nanak" and "The Exile."
Navtej Singh Sahni (born 1948) is an Indian physicist and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of condensed matter physics. He has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology.
The name Navtej has been a part of Indian culture and history for centuries, carrying deep spiritual and symbolic significance. It continues to be a popular name among Indian families, particularly among Sikhs, as a representation of their faith and cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Navtej over time
The chart below shows babies named Navtej registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Navtej, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2021, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Navtej by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Navtej 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 | #2493 | 8 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Navtej
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Navtej: questions and answers
How popular is the name Navtej in the UK right now?
In 2021, Navtej was ranked #2493 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Navtej most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 8 babies registered as Navtej in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Navtej?
A masculine Indian name derived from Sanskrit meaning "bright moon".
How many people are called Navtej in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Navtej across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.