Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2000

Rahul

Meaning Transliteration of Sanskrit राहुल (rāhula) Gender Boy Rank 2025 #9,498

Transliteration of Sanskrit राहुल (rāhula)

Rank 2025
#9,498
among boys · ↑2,519 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
8
named Rahul
How common
1 in 213,510
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2000
196 babies
All-time total
3,332
#2,362 all-time among boys
First recorded
1966
in Social Security records

Rahul popularity over time

3,332 babies have been named Rahul since 1966, 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
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2000Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s 13 1 – #3,518
1970s 236 24 +1715% #1,444
1980s 442 44 +87% #1,267
1990s 977 98 +121% #898
2000s 1,355 136 +39% #818
2010s 258 26 -81% #2,282
2020s (to 2025) 51 9 -67% #8,024

The story of Rahul

Rahul is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,498 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1966, 3,332 American babies have been named Rahul. Its peak came in 2000, when 196 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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 Rahul stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Rahul?

The median living Rahul is about 25 years old; half are between 21 and 33. An estimated 3,200 people named Rahul are alive in the United States today.

median 25 020406080100

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

Rahul year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 8 #9,498
2024 6 #12,017
2023 10 #8,118
2022 10 #8,163
2021 10 #8,024
2020 7 #10,346
2019 7 #10,557
2018 13 #6,620
2017 14 #6,265
2016 16 #5,731
2015 14 #6,235
2014 30 #3,597
2013 29 #3,637
2012 37 #3,099
2011 41 #2,888
2010 57 #2,282
2009 63 #2,159
2008 84 #1,788
2007 93 #1,655
2006 105 #1,466
2005 128 #1,240
2004 166 #999
2003 162 #982
2002 171 #944
2001 187 #860
2000 196 #818
1995 90 #1,231
1990 45 #1,774
1985 51 #1,369
1980 38 #1,585
1975 38 #1,444
1970 10 #3,230
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Rahul

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

  1. 1 Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi 12th Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha since 2024 b. 1970 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Rahul Bose Rahul Bose Indian film actor and politician (born 27 July 1967) Contemporary
  3. 3 Rahul Sankrityayan Rahul Sankrityayan Indian scholar and author (1893–1963) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Rahul?

The median living Rahul is about 25 years old. Half of all living Rahuls are between 21 and 33 years old.

How many people named Rahul are alive today?

An estimated 3,200 people named Rahul are alive in the United States, based on 3,332 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Rahul mean?

Transliteration of Sanskrit राहुल (rāhula)

How popular is the name Rahul in 2025?

Rahul ranked #9,498 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Rahul?

3,332 babies have been named Rahul in the United States since 1966, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rahul most popular?

Rahul peaked in 2000, when 196 newborns received the name.

Is Rahul a boy or girl name?

Rahul is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Rahul rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Rahul?

Well-known people named Rahul include Rahul Gandhi (politician), Rahul Bose (actor), Rahul Sankrityayan (writer).

Names like Rahul

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

Compare Rahul with similar names → More names starting with R →