Declining since 2009, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Sanjay since 1962
Babies named Sanjay per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 137 |
| 1970s | 391 |
| 1980s | 313 |
| 1990s | 383 |
| 2000s | 685 |
| 2010s | 568 |
| 2020s | 129 |
Meaning & origin
Sanjay first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1962 and saw its peak popularity in 2010. Since 2009, the name's usage has been on a declining trajectory, reflecting broader trends in the naming of children from Indian-American families who increasingly favor shorter or more Anglicized names. In 2025, with a rank of 4,857 and a rate of 1 in 85,404 boys, Sanjay remains a recognizable but infrequent choice. The name draws heavily from Hindu epic tradition, yet it carries a straightforward meaning that transcends culture.
Sanjay is a Sanskrit name derived from the word 'samjaya', meaning 'victory' or 'triumph'. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Sanjay is the loyal charioteer and advisor to King Dhritarashtra, who narrates the events of the Kurukshetra War. The name has been used widely across India and among the Indian diaspora for centuries.
“Sanjay” around the world
Where Sanjay 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: Sanj, Jay
Variants: Sanjaya, Sanjey
Sibling names for Sanjay
Names that share Sanjay's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Priya, Amita, Rekha, Lakshmi, Nalini, Anjali, Ishani, Kamala, Leela, Monisha, Nisha, Ranee, Shanta, Uma, Amrita, Janani, Kavita, Komal, Latika, Sameera, Sapna, Seema, Sheela, Shilpa, Shree, Sonal, Sruthi, Sunita, Veena, Vinita, Yashica, Anju, Arti, Jyoti, Kajal, Navneet, Nikitha, Nitasha, Preeti, Priti, Puneet, Rashana, Shweta, Sharmila, Dinesha, Kanitra, Kavitha, Khushbu, Lalitha, Mohini, Nalina, Neeta, Nimisha, Purvi, Ravina, Rupa, Savita, Shantika, Shital, Smita, Sujata, Tamasha
Brothers: Ravi, Arjun, Vikram, Mohan, Raj, Ajay, Amit, Karan, Kunal, Raja, Vijay, Vivek, Aneesh, Anil, Deepak, Manish, Navin, Nilan, Nitin, Rajeev, Rajiv, Vikas, Vilas, Ajai, Ajit, Anup, Arun, Ashok, Bhavik, Jatin, Ketan, Kumar, Mahesh, Makar, Manoj, Neeraj, Sajan, Sumeet, Sumit, Sundeep, Sunil, Viren, Nilesh, Ajeet, Dinesh, Jayant, Mitesh, Nikesh, Niraj, Sanay, Suresh, Vikash, Vinod
