Rao
Sanskrit · Boy · 1 syllable
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Rao
Rao is a title and surname meaning "king" or "ruler," derived from Sanskrit "rāja" (राज), which passed into Hindi and other Indo-Aryan languages.
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Etymology
Rao is a title and surname meaning "king" or "ruler," derived from Sanskrit "rāja" (राज), which passed into Hindi and other Indo-Aryan languages. It linguistically roots in Proto-Indo-European, appearing across Indian subcontinent nomenclature as both an honorific and hereditary designation.
The name is primarily used in India among Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities, historically associated with Rajput and other warrior castes, and remains common in South India (particularly Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) where it denotes nobility or administrative authority.
Rao currently ranks #3,689 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 2024.
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Sibling name ideas
Indian names that sit beautifully beside RaoSimilar names you might like
Names starting with RMore names starting with R
- Raffy
- Rafiq
- Railey
- Raffaela
- Rafif
- Raihana
- Rada
- Radin
- Raed
- Raffie
- Rahman
- Raian
- Raif
- Rachid
- Raida
- Rael
- Rabih
- Rahmah
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