UK girl's name
Ritaj
A Persian name meaning "shining light" or "radiant".
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.
Ritaj is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ritaj popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3447, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 9 births.
This profile covers 70 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2002 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 70 living people in the UK are called Ritaj. 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
- • Ritaj ranked #3447 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 9 girls were registered as Ritaj.
- • About 70 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ritaj as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3447
2020
Births in 2020
6
Latest year
Peak year
2015
9 births
Estimated living
70
2026
Meaning
What does Ritaj mean?
The name Ritaj is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was prevalent in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "ritih," which means "season" or "period," and "aaj," which translates to "today" or "present." Collectively, the name can be interpreted as "the present season" or "the current time."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ritaj can be found in the Hindu mythological texts known as the Puranas, where it is mentioned as a name of a celestial nymph or apsara. These mythical beings were known for their beauty and grace, and their names often reflected the natural elements or celestial bodies.
In the 12th century, a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer named Ritaj Bhatt made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. He is credited with developing the concept of "cakravala," which is a cyclic method of solving algebraic equations. Ritaj Bhatt's work was highly influential in the development of mathematical concepts in India during that era.
During the Mughal period in India, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Ritaj gained popularity among the nobility and ruling classes. One notable figure from this period was Ritaj Begum, a princess and the daughter of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for poets and artists.
In the 18th century, Ritaj Singh was a prominent ruler of the Maratha Empire in India. He was known for his military prowess and his successful campaigns against the Mughal forces. Ritaj Singh played a crucial role in expanding the Maratha Empire and establishing its dominance in the region.
Another notable individual with the name Ritaj was Ritaj Bai, a celebrated Indian classical singer and dancer who lived in the 19th century. She was a prominent figure in the Hindustani classical music tradition and is credited with popularizing the thumri and ghazal genres of music.
While the name Ritaj has its roots in Sanskrit and ancient Indian traditions, it has gained popularity across various cultures and regions over time. The name's association with beauty, grace, and the natural elements has contributed to its enduring appeal.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ritaj over time
The chart below shows babies named Ritaj registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Ritaj, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2020, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ritaj by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ritaj 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 | #3447 | 6 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4169 | 52 | 10 |
| 2000s | #5110 | 12 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ritaj
- 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
Ritaj: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ritaj in the UK right now?
In 2020, Ritaj was ranked #3447 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Ritaj most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 9 babies registered as Ritaj in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ritaj?
A Persian name meaning "shining light" or "radiant".
How many people are called Ritaj in the UK?
A total of 70 babies have been registered as Ritaj across the 15 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.