Rajiv

Meaning of Rajiv

Rajiv is the kind of name that steps into a room with the confidence of a matador and the grace of a blossoming lotus—fitting, because in Sanskrit “rajīva” literally paints the picture of a lotus floating above still water. He carries centuries of Indian heritage yet rolls off the tongue in one quick, musical breath—rah-JEEV—easy enough for any playground announcer to nail. In Hindu lore, Rama is called “lotus-eyed,” so Rajiv comes pre-packed with imagery of calm wisdom and bright purity, while modern icons like former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and badminton ace Rajiv Ouseph add a splash of real-world sparkle. In the United States, Rajiv has always been a rare gem—never cracking the top 600, and in 2019 only five little adventurers received the name—so your son will almost certainly be the only Rajiv at his birthday fiesta. If you’re hunting for a name that’s global yet grounded, exotic yet easy, Rajiv dances to that irresistible Latin-tempo beat of “¡por qué no!”—inviting you to say yes to a lifetime of vivid stories.