UK girl's name
Teja
A masculine Hindu name meaning "radiance" or "brightness".
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.
Teja is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Teja popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 29 births.
This profile covers 295 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 308 living people in the UK are called Teja. 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
- • Teja ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 29 girls were registered as Teja.
- • Teja ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #426 in 2015.
- • About 308 living people in the UK are estimated to have Teja as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2015
29 births
Estimated living
308
2026
Meaning
What does Teja mean?
The name Teja has its roots in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "tejas," which means radiance, brilliance, or splendor. The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times, particularly among Hindu communities in the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Teja can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Puranas. These sacred texts, composed between the 3rd and 10th centuries CE, mention several mythological characters bearing the name Teja, often associated with divine attributes or celestial beings.
In the historical context, the name Teja has been borne by several notable individuals throughout the centuries. One of the earliest known figures was Teja Singh, a prominent leader of the Sikh Empire in the early 19th century. Born in 1780, he played a crucial role in the military campaigns of Ranjit Singh, the renowned Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.
Another significant figure was Teja Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, who lived from 1621 to 1675. He is revered for his teachings on the principles of equality, justice, and religious tolerance, and his martyrdom is commemorated as a symbol of resistance against oppression.
In the realm of arts and literature, Teja Singh Arora (1917-1996) was a renowned Punjabi writer and playwright. His works, including novels, short stories, and plays, explored themes of social justice, human emotions, and the cultural heritage of Punjab.
In the field of sports, Teja Nair (born 1992) is an Indian cricketer who has represented the country in various international tournaments. Known for his all-round abilities, he has been a part of several successful campaigns for the Indian cricket team.
Teja Tsering (born 1963) is a prominent Tibetan activist and former political prisoner. He has been a vocal advocate for the rights of the Tibetan people and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Tibet.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Teja throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human endeavor.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Teja over time
The chart below shows babies named Teja registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Teja, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 29 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Teja by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Teja 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 | #3371 | 37 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1588 | 205 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3163 | 50 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Teja is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Teja. 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.
Teja ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #426 in 2015.
Across the UK
Teja in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#426 in 2015
4 years of NISRA records, 14 total registered
Related
Names similar to Teja
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Teja: questions and answers
How popular is the name Teja in the UK right now?
In 2024, Teja was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Teja most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 29 babies registered as Teja in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Teja?
A masculine Hindu name meaning "radiance" or "brightness".
How many people are called Teja in the UK?
A total of 295 babies have been registered as Teja across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 14 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Teja most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Teja ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #426 in 2015. 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.