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.
Pronunciation
Indian English
- Pronunced as rah-jeev (/rɑːˈdʒiːv/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Rajiv
| Rajiv Gandhi was an Indian pilot and politician who became India's youngest prime minister at age 40, serving from 1984 to 1989. |
| Rajiv Kumar is a retired Indian civil servant who served as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India and later became part time chairman of HDFC. |
| Rajiv Joseph is an American playwright known for his Pulitzer finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo and Obie-winning Describe the Night. |
| Rajiv Pratap Rudy is an Indian politician from Bihar, a four-time Member of Parliament and a licensed pilot. |
| Rajiv Ouseph is a former British badminton player who won the European men's singles title in 2017. |
| Rajiv Kumar is an Indian economist and former vice chairman of NITI Aayog. |
| Rajiv Kapoor was an Indian actor, producer and director best known for his lead role in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. |
| Rajiv Dixit was an Indian social activist who founded the Azadi Bachao Andolan and promoted economic self-reliance, yoga and Ayurveda. |
| Rajiv Memani is a senior EY leader for Africa and India and a former president of the Confederation of Indian Industry. |
| Rajiv Goswami was an Indian student activist who became known for protesting caste-based job reservations in 1990. |
| Rajiv Kumar is a former Indian cricketer who played for Bihar and Jharkhand and now coaches Jharkhand and Chennai Super Kings. |
| Rajiv Bajaj is an Indian businessman who has led Bajaj Auto since 2005 and helped revive the company with its Pulsar motorcycles. |
| Rajiv Anchal is an Indian filmmaker and sculptor best known for Guru, India's official entry for the 1997 Academy Awards. |
| Rajiv Patil was a National Film Award winning Marathi director best known for Jogwa. |
