Holding steady.
Popularity of Neeraj since 1970
Babies named Neeraj per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1980, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Neeraj's real moment was 1974.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 72 |
| 1980s | 88 |
| 1990s | 79 |
| 2000s | 62 |
| 2010s | 27 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
The name Neeraj, from the Sanskrit for 'lotus', first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1970. It reached its highest usage in the peak year of 1974, reflecting the growing Indian diaspora. Although it has never ranked in the top 1000 nationally, it has maintained a stable but low level of use. Neeraj is a name that carries cultural significance in India, often chosen for its connection to nature and purity. Based on Social Security data, Neeraj is given regularly in small numbers, with no single state dominating its use, indicating a spread across Indian-American communities nationwide.
Neeraj comes from Sanskrit नीरज (nīraja), a compound of नीर (nīra, 'water') and ज (ja, 'born'), thus meaning 'born in water'. It is a poetic term for the lotus, which grows in water. The name has been used in India for centuries, especially among Hindu families, and remains common in modern India.
Sibling names for Neeraj
Names that share Neeraj's style, for a brother or sister.
