Manoj

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Manoj

Pronounced muh-NOHJ /məˈnoːdʒ/Medium

Meaning: Manoj is a Sanskrit name meaning 'born of the mind,' from manas, 'mind,' and ja, 'born.' It serves as an epithet of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love, who in tradition is said to spring from the mind. It is a widely used, well-established Indian boy's name; in the United States it appears among families of South Asian heritage. We present its meaning respectfully and accurately.Medium

In 30 seconds: Manoj is a Sanskrit name meaning 'born of the mind,' an epithet of the love-god Kamadeva. A South Asian heritage name, it saw a small American presence in the late twentieth century (said muh-NOHJ).

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Origin HighSanskrit

MeaningManoj is a Sanskrit name meaning 'born of the mind,' from manas, 'mind,' and ja, 'born.' It serves as an epithet of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love, who in tradition is said to spring from the mind. It is a widely used, well-established Indian boy's name; in the United States it appears among families of South Asian heritage. We present its meaning respectfully and accurately.

U.S. rank (2008)#13844 ↘ Falling

2008 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1979

Total births (all-time)≈ 224

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Manoj is a classic Sanskrit name, joining manas, 'mind,' with ja, 'born,' to mean 'born of the mind.' In Hindu tradition it is an epithet of Kamadeva, the god of love, who is described as arising from the mind, so the name carries a gentle, poetic weight. Long popular across India, it entered American records through South Asian families keeping their language and traditions.

Its American use was always modest, reaching about fifteen boys a year at its high point around 1979 and appearing from the mid-nineteen-sixties into the two-thousands as Indian immigration grew. A Manoj from that peak is now in his forties, an age shared by many well-known Indian bearers, and the name reads clearly as a South Asian heritage choice with a rich, documented meaning.

Did you know? As a title of Kamadeva, the god of love, Manoj captures the old idea that love and desire are born in the mind, from manas, 'mind,' and ja, 'born.'

Overall data confidence 80%

References - Manoj — Sanskrit 'born of the mind' (manas + ja); epithet of Kamadeva; Indian heritage; bearer Manoj Kumar (verify).

Variations

ManojeManojkumarManujManojit

Nicknames

ManoManu

Famous Bearers

★Manoj Kumar (1937-2025)
Celebrated Indian film actor and director, a major figure of Hindi cinema.

If you like Manoj…

Manish— a like Sanskrit boy's name of similar sound and structure

Mahesh— a comparable Sanskrit name from Hindu tradition

Rajesh— a familiar Indian name of the same era and rhythm

Madhav— a fellow Sanskrit choice

Mivaan— another Sanskrit name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Manoj mean?

It is a Sanskrit name meaning 'born of the mind,' from manas, 'mind,' and ja, 'born,' used as an epithet of Kamadeva, the god of love.

How do you pronounce Manoj?

It is said muh-NOHJ /məˈnoːdʒ/ - two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Manoj a boy or girl name?

Manoj is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Manoj?

It was always rare in the United States, reaching only about fifteen boys a year at its best in the late nineteen-seventies.