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Rajeev
Pronounced rah-JEEV /rɑːˈdʒiːv/Medium
Meaning: Rajeev, also spelled Rajiv, is a Sanskrit name meaning 'blue lotus' or 'striped', an emblem of beauty and purity in Indian tradition. It is a common boys' name across India and among the South Asian diaspora; the former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi is a widely known bearer of the name.Medium
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
Rajeev (also Rajiv) is a Sanskrit name meaning 'blue lotus', a flower rich with meanings of beauty and purity in Indian culture. A common boys' name across India, it reached American records with the growth of South Asian communities; Rajiv Gandhi carried the more common spelling.
In the United States it stayed uncommon, a couple dozen boys a year around the late nineteen-seventies. It reads as a meaningful heritage name rather than a mainstream American one.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- ★Rajiv Gandhi (1944-1991)Prime Minister of India, in the Rajiv spelling
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Rajeev mean?
It's a Sanskrit name meaning 'blue lotus', a symbol of beauty and purity; it is also spelled Rajiv.
How do you pronounce Rajeev?
It's said rah-JEEV /rɑːˈdʒiːv/, two syllables, stress on the second.
Is Rajeev a boy or girl name?
Rajeev is used as a boy's name.
Is Rajeev a popular name?
No, it is uncommon in the United States, borne mainly by families of South Asian heritage.