NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Raj

A masculine Indian name derived from the Sanskrit word for "king".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Raj is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Raj popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 25 births.

This profile covers 229 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 227 living people in the UK are called Raj. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • • Raj ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • • The name peaked in 1996, when 25 boys were registered as Raj.
  • • About 227 living people in the UK are estimated to have Raj as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4608

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

25 births

Estimated living

227

2026

Meaning

What does Raj mean?

The name Raj originates from the Sanskrit word "rajah," which means king or ruler. It first appeared in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Rigveda and the Mahabharata, dating back to around 1500 BCE.

In India, the name Raj has been associated with royalty and nobility for centuries. It was commonly used by members of the ruling classes and the aristocracy. The name's connection to power and authority can be traced back to the ancient Indian kingdoms and empires.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Raj is found in the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a prince. The epic also refers to several kings and rulers with the name Raj or its variations, such as Rajendra and Rajasena.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Raj. One of the most famous is Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833), a Bengali Hindu renaissance man who played a pivotal role in the abolition of the practice of sati (widow burning) in British India.

Another prominent individual with the name Raj was Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906), an Indian painter and artist who is regarded as one of the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. His works were known for their realistic depictions of Indian mythology and culture.

In the 20th century, Raj Kapoor (1924-1988) was a legendary Indian actor, producer, and director who was a pioneer of the Hindi film industry. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential figures in the history of Indian cinema.

Raja Ramanna (1925-2004) was an Indian nuclear physicist who played a crucial role in India's nuclear program. He was the director of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission and was instrumental in the development of India's first nuclear weapon.

Raj Reddy (born 1937) is an Indian-American computer scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of artificial intelligence. He was awarded the Turing Award, one of the highest honors in computer science, in 1994.

The name Raj has a rich history and a strong connection to power, royalty, and leadership in Indian culture and tradition. It has been borne by notable figures across various fields, including literature, art, cinema, science, and politics, making it a name with a significant cultural legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Raj over time

The chart below shows babies named Raj registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Raj, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 25 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Raj
06131925199620082020

Decades

Raj by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Raj 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 #4608 3 1
2010s #2994 61 9
2000s #1800 94 10
1990s #889 71 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Raj

  • Raj Popat

    badminton player

    badminton player

    1986-

  • Raj Hundal

    pool player

    English pool player

    1981-

  • Raj Kundra

    businessperson

    British businessman

    1975-

  • Raj Patel

    economist; researcher; journalist; sociologist; political activist; activist

    British academic (born 1972)

    1972-

  • Raj Persaud

    psychiatrist; radio personality

    British psychiatrist and broadcaster

    1963-

  • Raj Sacranie

    writer; poet; journalist

    UK poet, journalist and author (1950-1998)

    1950-1998

  • Raj K. Aggarwal

    businessperson; pharmacist

    Anglo-Indian businessman

    1949-

  • Raj Loomba, Baron Loomba

    politician

    Businessperson and Member of the House of Lords (born 1943)

    1943-

Related

Names similar to Raj

FAQ

Raj: questions and answers

How popular is the name Raj in the UK right now?

In 2020, Raj was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Raj most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 25 babies registered as Raj in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Raj?

A masculine Indian name derived from the Sanskrit word for "king".

How many people are called Raj in the UK?

A total of 229 babies have been registered as Raj across the 24 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.