Declining since 2002, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Alhaji since 1979
Babies named Alhaji per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 8 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 40 |
| 2000s | 88 |
| 2010s | 52 |
| 2020s | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Alhaji enters the U.S. baby name landscape as an extremely rare choice, first recorded in 1979 and peaking in popularity in 2001. In 2025, the name ranked 10,695, occurring in approximately 1 in 284,679 newborn boys. Its trajectory has been falling since 2002, reflecting its niche status. While no top states are recorded for the name, its usage is likely concentrated within Muslim communities, particularly those of West African heritage. The name derives from the Arabic honorific 'al-ḥājj', reserved for those who have completed the Hajj pilgrimage, and carries deep religious and cultural significance. As a given name, Alhaji offers a direct link to Islamic tradition and the personal achievement of pilgrimage, making it a meaningful but infrequent choice in the United States.
Alhaji is borrowed from Arabic 'al-ḥājj' (الحاج), meaning 'the pilgrim' or 'one who has performed the Hajj'. It is primarily used as a title of respect in West Africa, especially among Muslim communities in Nigeria, Ghana, and other countries. As a given name, it reflects the cultural prestige associated with completing the pilgrimage, though it remains rare in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Al, Haji
Variants: Al-Haji, Alhajji
Sibling names for Alhaji
Names that share Alhaji's style, for a brother or sister.
