UK name, mostly boys
Rajinder
A masculine Hindu name meaning "night watchman" or "king of the night.".
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.
Rajinder is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rajinder 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 8 births.
This profile covers 28 England and Wales registrations across 6 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 28 living people in the UK are called Rajinder. 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
- • Rajinder ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 8 boys were registered as Rajinder.
- • About 28 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rajinder as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 87.5% of Rajinder registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4527
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
8 births
Estimated living
28
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Rajinder
In England and Wales birth records, Rajinder has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 87.5% of registrations are for boys and 12.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Rajinder registered for boys
- Ranked #4,527 in 2009
- 3 boys registered in 2009
- Peak: 1997 (8 births)
Rajinder registered for girls
- Ranked #3,247 in 2000
- 4 girls registered in 2000
- Peak: 2000 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Rajinder mean?
The name Rajinder is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit language. It is a combination of two words: "Raja," meaning king or ruler, and "Indra," the name of the Hindu god of rain and thunder.
The earliest known use of the name Rajinder dates back to ancient Indian texts and scriptures, where it was often associated with royalty and prestigious lineages. The name gained popularity during the reign of various Hindu kingdoms and empires across the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rajinder can be found in the Mahabharata, a sacred Hindu epic dating back to around the 8th century BCE. In this text, Rajinder is mentioned as the name of a powerful king who ruled over a prosperous kingdom.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Rajinder, including Rajinder Singh (1872-1967), a prominent Sikh leader and scholar who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. Another notable figure was Rajinder Nath (1917-1986), an acclaimed Indian actor and playwright renowned for his contributions to Urdu and Punjabi literature.
In the realm of sports, Rajinder Goel (1942-2022) was a celebrated Indian cricketer who holds the record for the highest number of wickets in the Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic cricket tournament. Rajinder Gupta (1925-2009) was an accomplished Indian architect and town planner, known for his innovative designs and urban planning projects.
Another notable bearer of the name was Rajinder Kumar (1939-1999), an Indian film actor and director who starred in several popular Bollywood movies during the 1960s and 1970s, earning him a place among the most celebrated actors of his time.
The name Rajinder has continued to be popular in various regions of India, particularly among Hindu and Sikh communities, as it carries a sense of prestige, power, and connection to the rich cultural heritage of the subcontinent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rajinder over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rajinder in England and Wales, 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 Rajinder, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rajinder by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rajinder 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 | #3782 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2014 | 22 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Rajinder
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Rajinder: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rajinder in the UK right now?
In 2009, Rajinder was ranked #4527 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Rajinder most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 8 babies registered as Rajinder in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rajinder?
A masculine Hindu name meaning "night watchman" or "king of the night.".
How many people are called Rajinder in the UK?
A total of 28 babies have been registered as Rajinder across the 6 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.