Explore the Family Name Balaji
The meaning of Balaji
Indian (Andhra Pradesh): from Hindi, Sanskrit bala ‘young boy’ + the -ji suffix, a mark of respect. This name is particularly associated with Vishnu as the reigning deity at Sri Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh. The god is said to have appeared as a young boy and playmate to a devotee named Ramanuja, who named the idol at the temple as Balaji.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Balaji in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Balaji has seen a significant increase from 2000 to 2010. Ranking at 69,201 in 2000 and rising up to 27,707 in 2010, this shows an impressive upswing by 59.96 percent. The count of individuals carrying this surname also rose from 265 to 868 during this decade, marking a percentage change of 227.55. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, there was an increase from 0.1 to 0.29, indicating a substantial growth rate of 190 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #69,201 | #27,707 | 59.96% |
| Count | 265 | 868 | 227.55% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.1 | 0.29 | 190% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Balaji
Regarding ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Balaji identify as Asian/Pacific Islander. This group accounted for 95.85 percent in 2000 and increased slightly to 96.54 percent in 2010. Interestingly, the percentage of individuals identifying as having two or more ethnic identities dropped dramatically from 2.26 percent to 0.69 percent. A small fraction of individuals began identifying as White (0.92 percent) and American Indian and Alaskan Native (1.5 percent) in 2010, which were not previously represented in 2000. There were no recorded instances of individuals identifying as Hispanic or Black within this surname group during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 95.85% | 96.54% | 0.72% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 1.5% | 0% |
| White | 0% | 0.92% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.26% | 0.69% | -69.47% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |