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Rahul as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Rahul

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The baby name Rahul is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced RAH-hool (English), RAH-hul (Hindi); IPA: /ˈrɑːhuːl/ (English), /ˈraːɦul/ (Hindi).

Rahul is Sanskrit in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: RAH-hool (English), RAH-hul (Hindi); IPA: /ˈrɑːhuːl/ (English), /ˈraːɦul/ (Hindi)

What is the meaning of the name Rahul ?

The baby name Rahul is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced RAH-hool (English), RAH-hul (Hindi); IPA: /ˈrɑːhuːl/ (English), /ˈraːɦul/ (Hindi).

Rahul is Sanskrit in Origin.

Rahul is a widely used South Asian masculine name rooted in Sanskrit and Pali Rāhula, most famously borne by the Buddha’s son. Classical lexicons gloss rāhula as "fetter, bond, impediment," a poignant allusion to worldly attachment; the name’s cultural aura, however, has long been benevolent, linked to discipline, reflection, and filial duty. In modern name lore it is often reinterpreted with upbeat senses such as "able," "efficient," or "one who overcomes sorrow," though these are secondary to the historical etymology.

The name gained pan-Indian currency in the 20th century and remains popular across Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Nepali, and Sinhala communities, as well as the diaspora. Variant forms include Rāhul (diacritic), Rahool (anglicized), and the classical Rahula; Tamil-influenced spellings Raghul or Ragul also appear. Usage cuts across religious lines - Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Muslim families alike employ Rahul as a modern, pan-regional choice.

Rahul has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Rahul

Rahul Gandhi Politician · Born 1970 · India Rahul Gandhi is best known as a leading Indian politician from the Indian National Congress. He is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and has represented Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh since June 2024. Rahul Bose Actor · Born 1967 · India Rahul Bose is an Indian actor best known for his work in Hindi films, including English, August, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, and Chameli. Born on 27 July 1967, he is also an athlete and serves as the president of Rugby India. Rahul Kohli Actor · Born 1985 · United Kingdom Rahul Kohli is an English actor best known for playing Ravi Chakrabarti on iZombie. He’s also widely recognized for his roles in Mike Flanagan’s series The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Rahul Roy Actor · Born 1968 · India Rahul Roy is an Indian actor, producer, and former model best known for starring in the hit Hindi film Aashiqui. He began his acting career with Aashiqui in 1990, directed by Mahesh Bhatt, where he appeared opposite Anu Aggarwal. Rahul Khanna Actor · Born 1972 · India Rahul Khanna is best known as a Bollywood actor and television VJ. He has appeared in films like Earth, Love Aaj Kal, and Wake Up Sid, and is also a model and writer.

Celebrity babies named Rahul

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Rahul Bhatt Mahesh Bhatt film director ★★★★★

Rahul – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2009 #1 — 756
IN Boys 0 #1 42,025 16,750
IN 0 #1 183 2,963
FJ 0 #6 1 374
FJ Boys 0 #12 6 603
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
DJ Boys 0 #36 1 657
ID 0 #37 3 2,238
MV Boys 0 #53 25 3,375
OM 0 #56 63 6,215
AE 0 #61 124 10,220
QA Boys 0 #66 1,874 18,093
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
QA 0 #76 25 7,011
OM Boys 0 #80 3,105 17,948
BD 0 #81 180 5,992
AE Boys 0 #82 5,002 22,615
CN 0 #84 3 3,857
KW Boys 0 #84 2,142 18,755
BD Boys 0 #90 1,689 10,045
BH 0 #99 813 17,937
IN Girls 0 #104 1,273 13,121
PH 0 #109 2 5,607
GE Boys 0 #110 1 2,055
BN Girls 0 #113 2 5,459
CY Boys 0 #113 17 3,473
KW 0 #113 9 5,216
BN Boys 0 #117 17 6,332
EC 0 #121 1 2,502
EE Boys 0 #124 2 2,087
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
AZ Boys 0 #127 5 1,400
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
MU 0 #133 5 3,613
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
BW Boys 0 #152 3 4,685
MU Boys 0 #158 244 8,477
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
HU Boys 0 #173 2 3,954
SA Boys 0 #173 7,158 28,008
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
Sweden Boys 2010 #189 2 1,344
DK 0 #204 3 5,198
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
MO Boys 0 #213 11 5,842
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
SG 0 #230 40 11,010
Finland Boys 0 #241 208 2,041
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
GR Girls 0 #248 2 6,293
JP Girls 0 #250 2 6,592
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
JP Boys 0 #254 44 7,909
TW Boys 0 #254 3 7,111
GR Boys 0 #255 13 6,912
SG Boys 0 #255 625 17,960
SA 0 #257 39 10,560
QA Girls 0 #265 52 15,378
AF Boys 0 #268 7 3,535
NG 0 #270 3 5,926
CN Boys 0 #278 42 9,639
KZ Boys 0 #280 10 6,578
JM Boys 0 #291 3 6,876
CZ Boys 0 #299 7 6,530
DK Boys 0 #314 12 7,401
MY 0 #321 10 12,352
BD Girls 0 #322 65 8,413
JO Boys 0 #322 56 7,057
Canada Boys 2014 #323 9 2,348
PL Boys 0 #323 13 6,459
OM Girls 0 #325 72 15,987
PE 0 #327 3 6,350
PT Boys 0 #337 31 7,951
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
JO Girls 0 #338 2 7,570
PH Boys 0 #352 32 11,440
HK 0 #354 4 8,483
SD Girls 0 #356 3 7,678
GH Boys 0 #357 5 8,138
MU Girls 0 #359 4 8,539
YE 0 #368 14 8,639
BO 0 #407 2 6,868
France Boys 2013 #411 3 2,790
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
UY Boys 0 #412 2 5,922
SD Boys 0 #415 31 10,523
AE Girls 0 #425 129 20,968
Austria Boys 0 #429 14 2,180
KW Girls 0 #433 83 19,177
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
ZA 0 #436 12 14,421
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
CR Boys 0 #455 33 10,188
RU Boys 0 #461 45 12,621
HK Boys 0 #472 56 12,905
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
PA Boys 0 #497 9 9,305
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
IQ Girls 0 #525 1 11,303
LY 0 #525 11 12,703
PS Boys 0 #539 10 10,655
IR Boys 0 #543 10 10,162
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
CM Boys 0 #572 4 12,054
SG Girls 0 #576 11 18,916
MY Boys 0 #583 613 25,439
IQ Boys 0 #609 59 13,071
BO Boys 0 #614 9 9,244
IL Boys 0 #618 8 10,983
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
SA Girls 0 #651 286 25,931
Finland Boys 2026 #666 17 3,552
LB 0 #682 9 13,263
CL Boys 0 #693 8 13,390
IT 0 #702 13 4,183
SY 0 #763 5 11,684
BR Boys 0 #782 4 12,213
NG Girls 0 #826 1 15,093
PE Boys 0 #829 50 14,506
EG Boys 0 #851 36 15,035
NL Boys 0 #855 97 5,873
TN 0 #862 4 13,765
Spain Boys 0 #877 54 5,610
United States Boys 2024 #887 6 7,044
Germany Boys 0 #888 65 5,697
CO Boys 0 #908 13 15,656
NG Boys 0 #917 35 16,906
MY Girls 0 #962 33 24,821
MX Boys 0 #967 16 16,355
EG Girls 0 #1,005 5 14,742
ZA Boys 0 #1,021 158 25,619
IT Boys 0 #1,039 442 10,046
MA 0 #1,108 21 20,986
DZ 0 #1,164 13 20,130
TR 0 #1,198 14 19,440
ZA Girls 0 #1,235 2 25,928
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,437 10 9,415

Rahul is popular in 82 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Canada
France
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland

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People also ask about Rahul

Rahul is predominantly a boy's name.
Rahul is a 2 syllable name, pronounced RAH-hool (English), RAH-hul (Hindi); IPA: /ˈrɑːhuːl/ (English), /ˈraːɦul/ (Hindi).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Rāhul, Rahula, Raahul and Rahool.
Yes, very popular — Rahul ranked #1 in Ireland in 2009, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Rahul ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2009).
Rahul's popularity is declining significantly. It moved from #862 in 2014 to #887 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — 5 notable people named Rahul are in our database, including Rahul Gandhi (Politician), Rahul Bose (Actor), Rahul Kohli (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Rahul for their child, including Mahesh Bhatt.