Pooja
Borrowed from Sanskrit पूजा (pūjā).
Every Pooja since 1976 — 1,981 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Pooja Bhatt Actor · b. 1972
- Pooja Hegde Actor · b. 1990
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 Bhatt (actor), Pooja Hegde (actor).