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Rajesh

♂ Boy

Pronounced rah-JESH /rɑːˈdʒɛʃ/Medium

Meaning: Rajesh is a Sanskrit and Hindi man's name from raja, 'king', and isha, 'lord, ruler' — 'king of kings' or 'ruler of rulers'; the isha element is a name of the god Shiva, so the name also carries a lordly, divine ring. It is a common, dignified name across India.Medium

In 30 seconds: Rajesh is a Sanskrit and Hindi boy's name meaning 'king of kings' or 'ruler of rulers' (said 'rah-JESH').

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Origin MediumSanskrit, Hindi

MeaningRajesh is a Sanskrit and Hindi man's name from raja, 'king', and isha, 'lord, ruler' — 'king of kings' or 'ruler of rulers'; the isha element is a name of the god Shiva, so the name also carries a lordly, divine ring. It is a common, dignified name across India.

U.S. rank (2013)#11820 ↘ Falling

2013 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1976

Total births (all-time)≈ 683

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

Rajesh joins Sanskrit raja, 'king', to isha, 'lord' or 'ruler' — 'king of kings'. The isha element is also a title of the god Shiva, so the name blends royal and divine authority; it is widely borne across India.

In the United States it marks a later-twentieth-century Indian-American cohort; never common here, it reads as a proud heritage name, familiar worldwide through Indian cinema and its many distinguished bearers.

Did you know? Carried to America by Indian immigrant families, Rajesh was scarce in US records, cresting around 1976; the Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna made it a household name in India.

Overall data confidence 70%

References — Rajesh — Sanskrit raja+isha 'king of kings'; Rajesh Khanna

Variations

Raajesh

Nicknames

Raj

Famous Bearers

★Rajesh Khanna (1942–2012)
Indian film actor, one of Hindi cinema's first superstars.

If you like Rajesh…

Reyansh— lands in the same popularity range

Rudransh— echoes that soft -sh sound

Riyansh— shares Rajesh's Sanskrit roots

Reyaansh— another Sanskrit name

Rivansh— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rajesh mean?

Rajesh is a Sanskrit and Hindi name meaning 'king of kings' or 'ruler of rulers'.

How do you pronounce Rajesh?

It's said rah-JESH /rɑːˈdʒɛʃ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Rajesh a boy or girl name?

Rajesh is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Rajesh?

Rajesh is rare in the U.S. but a common, well-loved name across India, borne by many notable figures.