Tej
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "radiance" or "splendor".
Name Census estimates that about 681 living Americans carry the first name Tej. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tej today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tej births was 2011 (33 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tej. 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
681
~ 1 in 503,310 Americans
Peak year
2011
33 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,408
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Tej: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tej from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 254 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Tej remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tej 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 Tej during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tejs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, New Jersey, Texas recorded the most babies named Tej, while New York, Illinois, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 18 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tej
The name Tej has its origins in the Sanskrit language, tracing back to ancient India. It is derived from the word "teja," which means "radiance" or "splendor." The name carries a sense of brightness, glory, and brilliance.
In Hindu mythology, Tej is associated with the concept of tejas, which represents spiritual and intellectual energy or power. It is often used as a metaphor for the radiant aura or splendor that emanates from a divine or enlightened being.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Tej can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, where it is mentioned in various contexts related to spiritual wisdom and divine radiance.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Tej. One of the earliest known examples is Tej Bahadur, an Indian warrior and military leader from the 17th century who fought against the Mughal Empire (1675-1705). His bravery and valor in battle earned him the epithet "Tej Bahadur," meaning "Radiant Brave One."
Another notable figure was Tej Singh (1713-1768), a prominent Rajput ruler and military commander from Rajasthan, India. He played a pivotal role in the struggle against the Maratha Empire and is remembered for his strategic leadership and valor.
In more recent times, Tej Bahadur Sapru (1875-1949) was an eminent Indian lawyer, jurist, and statesman who served as a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.
Tej Pratap Singh (1912-1960) was an Indian politician and socialist leader who actively participated in the Indian independence struggle and later served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.
Tej Bahadur Singh (1928-2018) was an Indian soldier and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military decoration, for his exceptional bravery and selfless actions during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.
The name Tej has been associated with individuals who have exhibited radiance, brilliance, and valor in various fields throughout history, reflecting the essence of its Sanskrit origin.
People
Tej + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tej as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tej: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tej?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 681 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tej 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 503,310 US residents.
Is Tej a common name?
We classify Tej as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 689 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tej most popular?
The single biggest year for Tej was 2011, when 33 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tej is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tej a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tej 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.
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.