UK boy's name
Suraj
A masculine Hindu name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sun" or "sun-like".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Suraj is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Suraj popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 36 births.
This profile covers 351 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2021. 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 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 354 living people in the UK are called Suraj. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Suraj ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 36 boys were registered as Suraj.
- • Suraj ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #595 in 2007.
- • About 354 living people in the UK are estimated to have Suraj as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
36 births
Estimated living
354
2026
Meaning
What does Suraj mean?
The name Suraj is derived from the Sanskrit word 'sūrya,' which means 'sun.' It has its roots in the ancient Hindu culture and tradition, dating back thousands of years. The name is associated with the solar deity or the sun god, who was revered in Hinduism as a powerful and life-sustaining force.
One of the earliest references to the name Suraj can be found in the Vedas, the sacred Hindu scriptures composed between 1500 and 500 BCE. In the Rig Veda, one of the four Vedas, there are hymns dedicated to the sun god, praising his brilliance, warmth, and life-giving properties.
The name Suraj gained popularity across the Indian subcontinent, transcending religious boundaries and becoming a widely used name among Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims. It was also adopted in various regional languages, with slight variations in spelling and pronunciation, such as Surya in Sanskrit, Suraj in Hindi and Punjabi, and Soraj in Bengali.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Suraj. One of the earliest recorded examples is Suraj Mal (1707-1763), a Jat ruler who founded the state of Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Another prominent individual was Suraj Parkash (1913-1994), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.
In the realm of literature, Suraj Veer Singh (1920-2004) was a renowned Hindi poet and writer from Uttar Pradesh, India. He was honored with the prestigious Padma Bhushan award by the Indian government in 1976.
In the field of sports, Suraj Randiv (born 1985) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played as a right-arm off-break bowler for the Sri Lankan national team. He represented Sri Lanka in various international cricket tournaments, including the ICC World Cup.
Another notable figure with the name Suraj is Suraj Sharma (born 1993), an Indian actor who made his debut in the critically acclaimed film "Life of Pi" (2012), directed by Ang Lee. His performance in the lead role earned him praise and recognition from the international film community.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Suraj throughout history, representing various walks of life, from rulers and freedom fighters to writers, sportspersons, and actors.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Suraj over time
The chart below shows babies named Suraj registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Suraj, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 36 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Suraj by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Suraj 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 | #4699 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #2794 | 73 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1489 | 152 | 10 |
| 1990s | #609 | 120 | 4 |
Geography
Where Suraj is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Suraj. 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.
Suraj ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #595 in 2007.
Across the UK
Suraj in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#595 in 2007
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Suraj
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Suraj: questions and answers
How popular is the name Suraj in the UK right now?
In 2021, Suraj was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Suraj most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 36 babies registered as Suraj in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Suraj?
A masculine Hindu name of Sanskrit origin meaning "sun" or "sun-like".
How many people are called Suraj in the UK?
A total of 351 babies have been registered as Suraj across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Suraj most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Suraj ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #595 in 2007. 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.