UK boy's name
Neeraj
Of Sanskrit origin meaning "pure, virtuous".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Neeraj is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Neeraj popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4527, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 7 births.
This profile covers 34 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. 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.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 34 living people in the UK are called Neeraj. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Neeraj ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 7 boys were registered as Neeraj.
- • About 34 living people in the UK are estimated to have Neeraj as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4527
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
7 births
Estimated living
34
2026
Meaning
What does Neeraj mean?
The name Neeraj has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indian language that dates back thousands of years. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "nir" meaning "without" and "raj" meaning "dust" or "impurity." Thus, the name Neeraj can be interpreted to mean "one who is free from impurities" or "pure."
The name Neeraj has been mentioned in various ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Puranas. It is believed to have been used as a name for boys in ancient India, particularly among the Brahmin community, which was known for its emphasis on spiritual purity and knowledge.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Neeraj can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic that dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In the Mahabharata, there is a character named Neeraj who was a skilled warrior and a loyal friend of the Pandava princes.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Neeraj. One of the most famous was Neeraj Chopra, an Indian javelin thrower who won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He was born in 1997 and hails from the state of Haryana, India.
Another notable Neeraj was Neeraj Kabi, an Indian actor known for his work in both film and theater. He was born in 1967 and has appeared in several critically acclaimed movies, including "Talvar" and "Byomkesh Bakshi."
In the field of literature, Neeraj Ghaywan is a renowned Indian film director and screenwriter. He made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film "Masaan" in 2015, which won several awards and accolades both nationally and internationally.
Neeraj Pandey is another prominent figure, known for his work as an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He has directed several successful Bollywood films, including "A Wednesday," "Special 26," and "Baby."
Neeraj Chopra, the cricketer, was an Indian cricketer who played domestic cricket for Punjab and represented India in several Test matches and One Day Internationals in the 1980s and 1990s. He was born in 1961 and is considered one of the finest left-arm spinners in Indian cricket history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Neeraj over time
The chart below shows babies named Neeraj registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Neeraj, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Neeraj by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Neeraj 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3544 | 16 | 5 |
| 1990s | #1816 | 18 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Neeraj
- 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
Neeraj: questions and answers
How popular is the name Neeraj in the UK right now?
In 2009, Neeraj was ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Neeraj most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 7 babies registered as Neeraj in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Neeraj?
Of Sanskrit origin meaning "pure, virtuous".
How many people are called Neeraj in the UK?
A total of 34 babies have been registered as Neeraj across the 8 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.