UK girl's name
Retaj
A feminine Arabic name meaning "heritage" or "inheritance".
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.
Retaj is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Retaj popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 10 births.
This profile covers 111 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 113 living people in the UK are called Retaj. 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
- • Retaj ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 10 girls were registered as Retaj.
- • Retaj ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #749 in 2023.
- • About 113 living people in the UK are estimated to have Retaj as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2013
10 births
Estimated living
113
2026
Meaning
What does Retaj mean?
The name Retaj has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East during ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "rataj," which means "to weigh" or "to balance." The name itself is a reflection of the importance placed on balance and harmony in Arabic traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Retaj can be found in the historical texts of the 8th century CE, where it was mentioned as the name of a renowned scholar and philosopher. This scholar, Retaj al-Andalusi, was known for his contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 10th century CE, Retaj became a popular name among the ruling dynasties of the Abbasid Caliphate. One notable figure was Retaj al-Dawla, a powerful military commander and governor who played a significant role in expanding the Caliphate's territories.
During the Renaissance period, the name Retaj gained prominence in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Italy and Spain. One famous bearer of the name was Retaj de Medici, a wealthy merchant and patron of the arts who lived in Florence during the 15th century. His support for artists and intellectuals helped foster the cultural renaissance of that era.
In the 19th century, Retaj al-Hussaini was a renowned poet and philosopher from Iraq. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, and he is considered one of the greatest literary figures of the Arabic-speaking world.
Another notable bearer of the name was Retaj Khan, a military leader and statesman from Afghanistan who lived in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in the country's resistance against British imperialism and is remembered as a national hero.
Throughout its history, the name Retaj has been associated with individuals who embodied the values of wisdom, balance, and cultural significance. It has served as a reminder of the rich heritage and traditions of the Arabic-speaking world, while also transcending cultural boundaries and gaining recognition across various regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Retaj over time
The chart below shows babies named Retaj registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 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 Retaj, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Retaj by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Retaj 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 | #4923 | 15 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2987 | 81 | 10 |
| 2000s | #4415 | 15 | 4 |
Geography
Where Retaj is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Retaj. 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.
Retaj ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #749 in 2023.
Across the UK
Retaj in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#749 in 2023
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Retaj
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Retaj: questions and answers
How popular is the name Retaj in the UK right now?
In 2024, Retaj was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Retaj most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 10 babies registered as Retaj in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Retaj?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "heritage" or "inheritance".
How many people are called Retaj in the UK?
A total of 111 babies have been registered as Retaj across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Retaj most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Retaj ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #749 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.