Fun Facts About the Name Hajj
- 19 babies named Hajj: U.S. records list 19 babies given the name Hajj from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Hajj Mean?
Hajj is an Arabic name taken from the word ḥajj (حَجّ), "pilgrimage" - specifically the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are expected to make at least once in a lifetime if they are able. The word comes from the Arabic root ḥ-j-j, whose verb ḥajja means "to set out for" and then, more particularly, "to make the pilgrimage."
Because it names an act of worship rather than a personal quality, the word has a second life as a title. In Arabic, ḥajj is the pilgrimage itself, while ḥājj (حاجّ), usually written Haji or Hajji in English, is what a person who has completed the pilgrimage is called. In West Africa the related forms el-Hadj and Alhaji serve the same function, and such terms often settle into a family's name. The name therefore means literally "pilgrimage" rather than "pilgrim," even though the two are closely connected in practice.
Hajj Name History & Origins
The pilgrimage at Mecca is older than Islam, and Islamic tradition presents it as re-established by Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismaʿil. Its Islamic form was fixed in the 7th century C.E. in the lifetime of Muhammad, and it became the fifth pillar of the faith. It is discussed in several places in the Qur'an, including 2:196 - 203 and 3:97, and the twenty-second chapter of the Qur'an is itself titled Al-Hajj, "The Pilgrimage." The obligation is tied to Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar, whose name means "the one of the pilgrimage."
As a personal name, Hajj is less common as a birth name than as an element attached to a name later in life. In many Muslim societies a man or woman who completes the pilgrimage may be addressed as Haji or Hajji (or, in West Africa, as Alhaji or El Hadj), and in some places these have become inherited surname elements passed down regardless of whether the bearer has made the journey. Hajj also appears as a given name in Muslim families, where it refers to the pilgrimage itself rather than asserting that the child has performed it.
How Popular is the Name Hajj?
Hajj has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #9,920 in 2020.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #9,920 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #11,271 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #11,200 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Hajj Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Hajj's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Hajj's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.