Gurtaaj
An Indian masculine name meaning "lord of universe" or "victorious".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Gurtaaj. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gurtaaj today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gurtaaj births was 2013 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gurtaaj. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Gurtaaj with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gurtaaj. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
2013
7 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#10,028
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Gurtaaj: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gurtaaj by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gurtaaj during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Geography
Where Gurtaajs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Gurtaaj
The name Gurtaaj has its origins in the Punjab region of South Asia, with roots tracing back to the ancient Sanskrit language. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit words "guru," meaning teacher or spiritual guide, and "taaj," meaning crown or crest. Thus, the name Gurtaaj can be interpreted as "one who wears the crown of a spiritual teacher."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Gurtaaj can be found in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism. In this text, the name is used as a honorific title for the ten Sikh Gurus, revered as spiritual teachers and leaders of the faith. The name's association with Sikhism has led to its widespread use among Sikhs, particularly in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan.
In the 16th century, Gurtaaj Singh (1530-1604) was a prominent figure in the Sikh tradition. He was a devoted disciple of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, and is remembered for his unwavering commitment to the faith. His life and teachings continue to inspire Sikhs to this day.
Another notable figure bearing the name Gurtaaj was Gurtaaj Kaur (1720-1798), a courageous woman who played a significant role in the Sikh resistance against the Mughal Empire in the 18th century. She is celebrated for her bravery and leadership during a tumultuous period in Sikh history.
In the 19th century, Gurtaaj Rai (1825-1890) was a renowned Sikh scholar and poet. His works, which explored themes of spirituality and devotion, continue to be widely studied and appreciated within the Sikh community.
Another notable figure with the name Gurtaaj was Gurtaaj Singh Dhillon (1890-1962), a prominent Sikh politician and advocate for civil rights in British India. He was a vocal proponent of Sikh self-determination and played a crucial role in the struggle for Indian independence.
While the name Gurtaaj has its roots in the Sikh tradition, it has also been adopted by other communities in the region, particularly those with strong cultural ties to the Punjab. Its rich historical significance and association with spiritual leadership have made it a revered name across South Asia.
People
Gurtaaj + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gurtaaj as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gurtaaj: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gurtaaj?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gurtaaj going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Gurtaaj a common name?
We classify Gurtaaj as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gurtaaj most popular?
The single biggest year for Gurtaaj was 2013, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gurtaaj is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gurtaaj in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gurtaaj a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gurtaaj in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Gurtaaj still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gurtaaj in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gurtaaj can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Gurtaaj?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.