Fun Facts About the Name Tej
- 702 babies named Tej: U.S. records list 702 babies given the name Tej from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Tej Mean?
Tej is a masculine name meaning "radiance" or "light." It is the Hindi form of Sanskrit tejas (तेजस्), a noun meaning brightness, splendor, sharpness, or energy; the Sanskrit term is shortened to Hindi tej (तेज). The literal sense is light or luster, while vigor and commanding presence are extended senses of the same word.
Tej Name History & Origins
The parent word tejas belongs to old Sanskrit vocabulary. In Sanskrit texts it can refer to the glow of fire, the sharp edge of a blade, or a person's splendor and power, and it is also used for the element fire in some philosophical classifications. As the noun passed into later Indo-Aryan languages, the shortened form tej developed in Hindi and related languages with the senses of light, radiance, and energy.
As a given name, Tej is used in northern India by Hindu and Sikh families and in Nepal. It also appears as the first element in compound names such as Tejinder and Tejpal, but those are separate formations rather than variants of Tej itself.
How Popular is the Name Tej?
Tej 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 2011. Its best rank was #3,212 in 2004.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,761 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #6,408 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #5,636 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2022 | #4,831 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2021 | #4,761 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #4,837 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #5,533 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,084 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #4,092 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2016 | #4,185 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2015 | #4,067 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2014 | #3,876 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2013 | #4,166 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #3,880 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2011 | #3,356 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2010 | #3,618 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2009 | #4,573 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #5,227 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #3,989 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #4,088 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #3,930 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #3,212 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #3,717 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2002 | #3,659 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2001 | #4,275 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #4,544 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #3,821 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #8,362 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #4,427 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #7,884 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #5,465 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #7,681 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1993 | #6,757 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #8,342 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #9,477 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #9,355 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1988 | #7,163 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,454 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #7,219 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #7,227 | 5 | 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 Tej Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Tej's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Tej's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.