Declining since 2005, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Vijay since 1963
Babies named Vijay per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Vijay's real moment was 1982.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 43 |
| 1970s | 217 |
| 1980s | 364 |
| 1990s | 334 |
| 2000s | 379 |
| 2010s | 132 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Vijay is a classic Indian name rooted in the Sanskrit word for 'victory.' First recorded in U.S. data in 1963, it reached its peak popularity in 1982, though it has been declining since around 2005. In 2025, it ranked 12,008th, suggesting a relatively low but persistent usage among Indian-American families. The name's trajectory reflects broader immigration patterns and cultural ties, as it has never been a top 1,000 name nationally. Despite its decline, Vijay remains a recognizable and meaningful choice for families honoring South Asian heritage.
Vijay derives from the Sanskrit root 'ji' meaning 'to conquer,' with the prefix 'vi-' intensifying the sense. It is a common given name in India, particularly among Hindu families, and appears in Hindu epics. The name has been consistently used in India and among the diaspora, with periodic popularity surges linked to Indian film stars.
“Vijay” around the world
Where Vijay 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: Viju
Variants: Vijaya, Vijayakumar
Sibling names for Vijay
Names that share Vijay's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anjali, Priya, Divya, Shreya, Kavya, Indira, Kamala, Monisha, Shanta, Sona, Devi, Gita, Iniya, Kavita, Krupa, Latika, Megha, Reshma, Sheela, Sonal, Sruthi, Sunita, Yashica, Amita, Jyoti, Lalita, Mala, Navneet, Poonam, Priti, Puneet, Raveena, Rekha, Rupal, Shweta, Suriya, Sangeeta, Anitha, Bijal, Dinesha, Hema, Kavitha, Kumari, Madhavi, Neeta, Rupa, Savita, Shital, Sujata, Sunaina, Vaishali
Brothers: Arjun, Ravi, Amit, Raj, Sanjay, Kiran, Kunal, Raja, Anil, Arvind, Deepak, Gaurav, Manish, Nitin, Rajan, Rajeev, Rajesh, Rakesh, Sohum, Abhi, Ajit, Amol, Anup, Ashok, Jatin, Jawaan, Kalai, Ketan, Kumar, Mahesh, Praveen, Raman, Ramesh, Sumit, Sundeep, Sunil, Guhan, Nilesh, Arul, Dinesh, Nikesh, Niraj, Raji, Sanjiv, Suresh, Vikash, Vinod
