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Raju as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Raju

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The baby name Raju is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈrɑːdʒu/ (RAH-joo).

Raju is Hindi, Sanskrit in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Hindi, Sanskrit
Pronunciation: /ˈrɑːdʒu/ (RAH-joo)

What is the meaning of the name Raju ?

The baby name Raju is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈrɑːdʒu/ (RAH-joo).

Raju is Hindi, Sanskrit in Origin.

Raju is a masculine given name across South Asia, especially India and Nepal, rooted in Sanskrit rājan via rāja “king, ruler.” In many Indo-Aryan and Dravidian languages, -u is a familiar or nominative ending, so Raju reads as an affectionate “little king” or “dear ruler.” In Telugu it also functions as a community name and surname among Kshatriya groups, reinforcing the regal sense.

Used both as a standalone name and as a nickname for Raj, Raja, Rajendra, Rajesh, Rajkumar, and other Raj- names. Related or variant spellings include Rajoo and Raaju; anglicized parallel forms are Raj and Rajah. Feminine counterparts include Rani and Rajni (from Sanskrit rājñī). The name became widely recognizable in the 20th century through Indian cinema and popular culture - famously the character Raju in Mera Naam Joker - and remains common in the South Asian diaspora. Its core meaning evokes leadership, prestige, and kingliness with a warm, familiar tone.

Raju has the following similar or variant Names

Raju – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
FJ 0 #6 1 374
QA Boys 0 #9 5,389 18,093
IN Boys 0 #10 23,243 16,750
KW Boys 0 #11 7,950 18,755
AE Boys 0 #15 11,184 22,615
OM Boys 0 #15 7,968 17,948
BH 0 #18 2,464 17,937
MV 0 #19 1 644
MV Boys 0 #26 58 3,375
BD Boys 0 #29 3,834 10,045
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
IN 0 #32 39 2,963
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
SA Boys 0 #35 24,484 28,008
TM Boys 0 #36 1 614
BD 0 #39 327 5,992
MO 0 #47 6 2,706
QA 0 #50 51 7,011
AF 0 #74 3 1,883
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
OM 0 #78 39 6,215
KW 0 #88 29 5,216
BN Boys 0 #92 42 6,332
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
OM Girls 0 #95 365 15,987
AE 0 #96 82 10,220
QA Girls 0 #103 251 15,378
PH 0 #109 2 5,607
SG Boys 0 #109 1,448 17,960
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
KW Girls 0 #118 554 19,177
IN Girls 0 #120 1,064 13,121
CY Boys 0 #123 9 3,473
CY Girls 0 #124 2 3,755
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
GR 0 #132 4 3,911
ID Boys 0 #132 4 4,130
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
BW Boys 0 #153 2 4,685
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
MO Boys 0 #173 51 5,842
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
Finland Boys 0 #175 381 2,041
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
SA Girls 0 #193 1,271 25,931
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
AE Girls 0 #206 400 20,968
BD Girls 0 #208 188 8,413
GR Boys 0 #216 52 6,912
LU Boys 0 #219 2 4,970
SA 0 #222 74 10,560
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
IR 0 #231 1 4,221
JP Boys 0 #243 55 7,909
AO Boys 0 #245 5 5,568
MY Boys 0 #246 1,878 25,439
JO Boys 0 #247 141 7,057
GR Girls 0 #248 2 6,293
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
TW Boys 0 #251 6 7,111
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
SG 0 #257 13 11,010
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
AF Boys 0 #270 5 3,535
NG 0 #271 2 5,926
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
JM Boys 0 #287 7 6,876
TW Girls 0 #289 1 8,139
KZ Boys 0 #291 6 6,578
CZ Boys 0 #301 5 6,530
MU Boys 0 #306 52 8,477
CN Boys 0 #309 11 9,639
PT Boys 0 #328 40 7,951
DK Boys 0 #330 3 7,401
PL Boys 0 #333 8 6,459
JO Girls 0 #334 6 7,570
MY 0 #347 8 12,352
YE 0 #348 34 8,639
HK 0 #351 7 8,483
SD Girls 0 #356 3 7,678
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
GH Boys 0 #360 2 8,138
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
PH Boys 0 #362 22 11,440
SD Boys 0 #375 71 10,523
Finland Girls 0 #381 11 1,368
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
HK Boys 0 #450 78 12,905
IQ Boys 0 #465 207 13,071
ZA 0 #473 2 14,421
CR Boys 0 #478 10 10,188
LY 0 #487 49 12,703
IQ Girls 0 #489 16 11,303
RU Boys 0 #490 16 12,621
PA Boys 0 #502 4 9,305
PS Boys 0 #509 40 10,655
SG Girls 0 #532 55 18,916
PS Girls 0 #545 3 10,981
IR Boys 0 #560 6 10,162
IL Boys 0 #569 39 10,983
CM Boys 0 #573 3 12,054
LB 0 #613 46 13,263
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
HK Girls 0 #646 5 16,104
Finland Boys 2026 #677 6 3,552
IT 0 #696 19 4,183
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
NG Girls 0 #823 4 15,093
EG Boys 0 #831 56 15,035
Spain Boys 0 #854 77 5,610
TN 0 #863 3 13,765
IT Boys 0 #870 643 10,046
MY Girls 0 #889 106 24,821
NG Boys 0 #911 41 16,906
NL Boys 0 #912 40 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #922 31 5,697
PE Boys 0 #923 4 14,506
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
EG Girls 0 #1,008 2 14,742
ZA Boys 0 #1,055 124 25,619
MA 0 #1,112 17 20,986
CO Girls 0 #1,152 1 16,140
DZ 0 #1,158 19 20,130
TR 0 #1,183 29 19,440
ZA Girls 0 #1,234 3 25,928
IT Girls 0 #1,419 28 9,415

Raju is popular in 71 countries — most recent births per country:

AE
AF
AO
BD
BH

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People also ask about Raju

Raju is predominantly a boy's name.
Raju is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈrɑːdʒu/ (RAH-joo).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Raj, Raja, Rajoo and Rāju.
Across languages, Raju has these equivalents: Raja (Sanskrit), Rex (Latin), Roy / Leroy (English/French), Malik (Arabic).
Somewhat — Raju ranked #677 in Finland in 2026, placing it just outside the most common names.