Declining since 2008, #6,143 for boys today.
Popularity of Raja since 1967
Babies named Raja per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 7 |
| 1970s | 32 | 77 |
| 1980s | 19 | 109 |
| 1990s | 116 | 155 |
| 2000s | 124 | 242 |
| 2010s | 61 | 179 |
| 2020s | 24 | 95 |
Meaning & origin
Raja is a unisex name derived from the Sanskrit word for 'king,' with roots stretching back thousands of years. It entered U.S. records in 1967, peaking in popularity around 2001 when it ranked highest. Since 2008, its usage has been gradually declining, and in 2025 it ranked 6,143 with an incidence of about 1 in 122,005 births. While not associated with any specific U.S. state in the top positions, the name carries regal connotations across South Asian and Muslim cultures. Its simplicity and cross-cultural resonance have given it enduring, if modest, appeal.
Raja derives from the Sanskrit root 'rāj' meaning 'to rule' or 'to shine,' and has been used for millennia across the Indian subcontinent as a title for kings and nobles. It appears in Arabic as a loanword and is also found in Indonesian and Malay cultures, often as a given name or honorific. Its adoption in the West is more recent, likely influenced by colonialism and migration.
“Raja” around the world
Where Raja lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Raj
Sibling names for Raja
Names that share Raja's style, for a brother or sister.
