NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Rija

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "Queen" or "Prosperous".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Rija is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rija popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 5 births.

This profile covers 21 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1999 to 2017. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 21 living people in the UK are called Rija. 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 2018 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Rija ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 5 girls were registered as Rija.
  • About 21 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rija as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5765

2017

Births in 2017

3

Latest year

Peak year

1999

5 births

Estimated living

21

2026

Meaning

What does Rija mean?

The name Rija is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language from the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "rija," which means "straight" or "honest." It is thought to have been in use as a given name since ancient times in various regions of the Indian subcontinent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rija can be found in the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata. In this ancient Sanskrit text, Rija is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandava brothers during the great Kurukshetra war. The Mahabharata is believed to have been composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE, providing evidence of the name's extensive history.

During the medieval period, the name Rija was also found in various historical records and literary works from the Indian subcontinent. One notable figure with this name was Rija Devi, a 12th-century queen of the Chahamana dynasty who ruled over the region of modern-day Rajasthan. She is remembered for her patronage of the arts and her efforts to promote education and cultural development.

In the 16th century, Rija Khan was a prominent military leader and governor under the Mughal Empire. He played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire's territories and is credited with establishing several administrative policies that contributed to the empire's stability and prosperity.

Another historical figure with the name Rija was Rija Bai, a 17th-century Indian poet and scholar from the Maratha Empire. Her collection of poetry, known as "Rija Bai Kavya," is celebrated for its philosophical depth and literary excellence.

In more recent times, Rija Kapoor was an acclaimed Indian actress and dancer who graced the silver screen in the mid-20th century. She was born in 1923 and is remembered for her performances in several classic Bollywood films, including "Andaz" and "Barsaat." Rija Kapoor passed away in 1959, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Indian cinema.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rija over time

The chart below shows babies named Rija registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Rija, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Rija
01345199920082017

Decades

Rija by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rija 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
2010s #5809 9 3
2000s #4216 7 2
1990s #2770 5 1

Related

Names similar to Rija

FAQ

Rija: questions and answers

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

In 2017, Rija was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Rija most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 5 babies registered as Rija in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rija?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "Queen" or "Prosperous".

How many people are called Rija in the UK?

A total of 21 babies have been registered as Rija 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.