Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1997

Pooja

Meaning Borrowed from Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā) Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

Borrowed from Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā).

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Pooja
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1997
117 babies
All-time total
1,981
#4,729 all-time among girls
First recorded
1976
in Social Security records

Pooja popularity over time

1,981 babies have been named Pooja since 1976, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1997Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s 68 7 – #3,218
1980s 369 37 +443% #2,287
1990s 957 96 +159% #1,427
2000s 501 50 -48% #2,100
2010s 86 9 -83% #7,149
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Pooja

Pooja is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1976, 1,981 American babies have been named Pooja. Its peak came in 1997, when 117 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Pooja stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Pooja?

The median living Pooja is about 29 years old; half are between 24 and 34. An estimated 2,000 people named Pooja are alive in the United States today.

median 29 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Pooja year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 5 #17,556
2017 6 #15,483
2016 8 #12,614
2015 5 #18,492
2014 10 #10,762
2013 11 #10,090
2012 8 #13,162
2011 15 #8,110
2010 18 #7,149
2009 16 #7,981
2008 27 #5,400
2007 27 #5,350
2006 35 #4,238
2005 56 #2,928
2004 53 #2,989
2003 70 #2,388
2002 71 #2,301
2001 68 #2,351
2000 78 #2,100
1995 91 #1,635
1990 56 #2,281
1985 41 #2,428
1980 20 #3,954
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Pooja

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Pooja Hegde Pooja Hegde Indian actress (born 1990) Contemporary
  2. 2 Pooja Bhatt Pooja Bhatt Indian actress (born 1972) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Pooja, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Pooja?

The median living Pooja is about 29 years old. Half of all living Poojas are between 24 and 34 years old.

How many people named Pooja are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Pooja are alive in the United States, based on 1,981 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Pooja mean?

Borrowed from Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā).

How popular is the name Pooja in 2025?

Pooja did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Pooja?

1,981 babies have been named Pooja in the United States since 1976, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Pooja most popular?

Pooja peaked in 1997, when 117 newborns received the name.

Is Pooja a boy or girl name?

Pooja is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Pooja rising or falling?

Pooja is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Pooja?

Well-known people named Pooja include Pooja Hegde (actor), Pooja Bhatt (actor).

Names like Pooja

Names that sound and feel close to Pooja: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Pooja with similar names → More names starting with P →