Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Raj
BoySanskrit, Hindi· “king, rule”
- Meaning
- king, rule
- Origin
- Sanskrit, Hindi
- Pronunciation
- RAHJ
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #4,671
- US babies 2025
- 22
- Best rank
- #1,489 (2003)
- Peak year
- 2003
Meaning and origin of Raj
Raj is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “king, rule”.
Raj is a Sanskrit and Hindi name meaning king or rule, from raja, king. The same root gives maharaja, great king, and the British Raj, the period of British rule in India. Raj is common across India and among the Indian diaspora. It is said RAHJ. Raja, Rajesh and Rajendra are related names. Raj is also used as a short form of names beginning with Raj-. The actor Raj Kapoor was a leading figure in Hindi cinema. The name is short and easy to say in English.
Popularity over time
Raj first appears in US Social Security records in 1950. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,489 in 2003, the same year it reached its highest count of 88 babies. In 2025, 22 babies were named Raj, and it ranked #4,671 nationally. That is 44% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,083 in 1950, #1,757 in 1980, #1,571 in 2000, #2,859 in 2010, and #4,671 in 2025. Of the 2,176 US boys named Raj since records began, 27% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 496 babies. Since 2010, 522 more have been named Raj.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Job, Logen, Isacc, Tobey, and Leobardo.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Raj is usually pronounced RAHJ, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with R and ends in “-aj”.
Middle names for Raj
A few middle names that flow with Raj: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Raj
Similar names
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Ram Boy
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Lists that include Raj
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Raj mean?
Raj is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “king, rule”.
What is the origin of the name Raj?
Raj has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Raj is a Sanskrit and Hindi name meaning king or rule, from raja, king.
Is Raj a popular name?
Not especially. Raj ranked #4,671 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Raj a boy or girl name?
Raj is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Raj?
Raj is usually pronounced RAHJ. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings