Total births
442
Boys' name · since 1966
Rakesh
Rakesh has 442 recorded births since 1966 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1980 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 442
- total births
- 1966–2013
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 35%
- born in that decade
Rakesh sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 442 recorded since 1966.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rakesh has been recorded 442 times among boys since 1966, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1966 to 2013.
- 442 total births
- 1966–2013 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 35% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
442 boys have been named Rakesh since 1966, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2013.
- 442
- total births
- 1966–2013
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 35%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
35% of everyone ever named Rakesh was born in this single decade.
1980
Single peak year
21 babies were named Rakesh in 1980 - its busiest year on record.
Rakesh's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Rakesh's full recorded timeline at 1987, 42% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 58% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1966, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1980 peak of 21 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Rakesh at a glance
Last recorded 2013Peak year
1980
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1966
Rakesh popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1966–2013
- Peak year (1980)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 48 years of records
Rakesh by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Rakesh's strongest decade.
153 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Rakesh births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 16
1960s
16 births
- 1970s
1970s
129 births
- 1980s
1980s
153 births
- 1990s
1990s
75 births
- 2000s 58
2000s
58 births
- 2010s 11
2010s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 153 births (35% of all-time use).
Rakesh by state
Where Rakesh concentrates geographically, total births since 1966
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 32 | 7.2% |
| #2 | New York | | 11 | 2.5% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 7 | 1.6% |
California share of Rakesh's total US births 7.2%
Even split
32 of 442 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rakesh? ▼
Since 1966, Social Security records show 442 babies named Rakesh. The most recent recorded year was 2013. Its busiest year on record was 1980, with 21 births.
When was Rakesh most popular? ▼
Rakesh was most popular in the 1980s decade with 153 total births. The single peak year was 1980.
Where is Rakesh most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rakesh are California (32 births), New York (11 births), Illinois (7 births).
How long has the name Rakesh been used? ▼
Rakesh has been recorded in Social Security data since 1966, spanning 48 years of data through 2013.
What names are similar to Rakesh? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rakeem, Rakim, Rakan, Rakai, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rakesh's data
- Rakesh's decade-level peak was the 1980s (153 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Rakeshs (32 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Rakesh
Nearby Names Like Rakesh
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rakesh
Rakeem Boy
#4767 2,182 births
Rakim Boy
#4486 1,322 births
Rakan Boy
#2655 938 births
Rakai Boy
#3329 192 births
Rakin Boy
117 births
Compare Rakesh side by side: Rakesh vs Rakeem Rakesh vs Rakim Rakesh vs Rakan
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1966–2013 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rakesh: Baby Name Since 1966 - 442 Births, Peak 1980." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rakesh. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Rakesh draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.