Rajesh first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rajesh has been for the last 40 years (from 1974 to 2013) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rajesh

An Indian masculine given name derived from Sanskrit meaning "king" or "ruler".

Popularity of Rajesh by gender

Based on the last 40 years of data, Rajesh is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2013, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rajesh.

Year Male Count Female Count
2013 6 0
2006 8 0
2004 6 0
2003 7 0
2002 5 0
2001 7 0
2000 6 0
1998 6 0
1997 7 0
1996 10 0
1995 12 0
1993 15 0
1992 9 0
1991 11 0
1990 20 0
1989 14 0
1988 8 0
1987 14 0
1986 17 0
1985 19 0
1984 13 0
1983 24 0
1982 25 0
1981 29 0
1980 20 0
1979 36 0
1978 34 0
1977 29 0
1976 43 0
1975 22 0
1974 29 0

The history of the first name Rajesh

The name Rajesh originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture. It is a compound name derived from the words "raja" meaning "king" and "isha" meaning "lord" or "master." Together, the name Rajesh signifies "lord of kings" or "king of kings."

In Hindu mythology, the name Rajesh can be found in various sacred texts and scriptures. One notable reference is in the Ramayana, where Rajesh is mentioned as a name for the Hindu deity Rama, who is revered as the epitome of righteousness and an incarnation of the god Vishnu.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Rajesh can be traced back to the ancient Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions where Sanskrit was the predominant language. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin and first usage due to the limited historical records from that era.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Rajesh. One of the earliest known individuals was Rajesh Chandra Dutt (1848-1909), a prominent Indian writer, and scholar who contributed significantly to the Bengali literary renaissance of the 19th century.

Another prominent figure was Rajesh Khanna (1942-2012), an iconic Bollywood actor widely regarded as the first superstar of Indian cinema. He was a recipient of numerous accolades, including the prestigious Filmfare Awards, and his films were instrumental in shaping the landscape of Hindi cinema.

Rajesh Pilot (1945-2000) was an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party. He served as the Union Minister of Internal Security and held various other portfolios during his political career.

In the field of science, Rajesh Gopakumar (1971-2021) was an esteemed Indian theoretical physicist known for his contributions to string theory and quantum gravity. He received several prestigious awards, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize and the Infosys Prize.

Another noteworthy figure is Rajesh Khurana (born 1967), an Indian-American academic who currently serves as the President of Harvard University. He is widely recognized for his contributions to the field of organizational behavior and leadership development.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Rajesh throughout history. The name continues to be popular in various parts of the world, particularly in India and among the Indian diaspora, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural significance and historical legacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rajesh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rajesh, please contact us.

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"Rajesh first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 23, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rajesh-meaning-and-history/.

"Rajesh first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rajesh-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 23 May, 2025

Rajesh first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rajesh-meaning-and-history/.

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