Retaj
A feminine Arabic name meaning "heritage" or "inheritance".
Name Census estimates that about 234 living Americans carry the first name Retaj. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Retaj today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Retaj births was 2013 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Retaj. 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.
People living today
234
~ 1 in 1,464,762 Americans
Peak year
2013
24 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,403
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Retaj: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Retaj from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 159 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Retaj remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Retaj 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 Retaj during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Retajs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Retaj
The name Retaj has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East during ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "rataj," which means "to weigh" or "to balance." The name itself is a reflection of the importance placed on balance and harmony in Arabic traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Retaj can be found in the historical texts of the 8th century CE, where it was mentioned as the name of a renowned scholar and philosopher. This scholar, Retaj al-Andalusi, was known for his contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 10th century CE, Retaj became a popular name among the ruling dynasties of the Abbasid Caliphate. One notable figure was Retaj al-Dawla, a powerful military commander and governor who played a significant role in expanding the Caliphate's territories.
During the Renaissance period, the name Retaj gained prominence in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Italy and Spain. One famous bearer of the name was Retaj de Medici, a wealthy merchant and patron of the arts who lived in Florence during the 15th century. His support for artists and intellectuals helped foster the cultural renaissance of that era.
In the 19th century, Retaj al-Hussaini was a renowned poet and philosopher from Iraq. His works explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition, and he is considered one of the greatest literary figures of the Arabic-speaking world.
Another notable bearer of the name was Retaj Khan, a military leader and statesman from Afghanistan who lived in the late 19th century. He played a crucial role in the country's resistance against British imperialism and is remembered as a national hero.
Throughout its history, the name Retaj has been associated with individuals who embodied the values of wisdom, balance, and cultural significance. It has served as a reminder of the rich heritage and traditions of the Arabic-speaking world, while also transcending cultural boundaries and gaining recognition across various regions and eras.
People
Retaj + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Retaj as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Retaj: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Retaj?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 234 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Retaj 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 1,464,762 US residents.
Is Retaj a common name?
We classify Retaj as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 236 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Retaj most popular?
The single biggest year for Retaj was 2013, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Retaj is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Retaj a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Retaj in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.