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Taraji

Girl name · African · Swahili

Meaninghope · Swahili

Taraji is an African and Swahili girl name meaning “hope”. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.

Did you know?

  • Hidden namesLook closely: Taraji has the name Tara hiding inside it.
  • Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Taraji would score 13 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
  • GenerationTaraji peaked in 2010, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Taraji you'd meet today is about 15 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Taraji would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 114,943 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryTaraji first shows up in US birth records in 2002, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
Baby lying on a pink blanket
hello, little Taraji

US births per million girls, 2002–2025

012024020022025

Similar names

Girl name: TaraUnisex name: TaranUnisex name: TarynGirl name: Tari
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Taraji

Taraji is a girl name of African and Swahili origin meaning “hope”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:African namesSwahili names

More African girl names

Questions about the name Taraji

What does the name Taraji mean?

Taraji means “hope” and comes from Swahili. Names built around “hope” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Hope (“hope”), Nadia (“hope”), Esperanza (“hope”) and Amal (“hope”).

What is the origin of the name Taraji?

Taraji is African and Swahili in origin. Names often travel between languages and cultures, which is why Taraji turns up in more than one tradition. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Amber (“amber resin”).

Is Taraji a boy or girl name?

Taraji is a girl name. In 2025, 14 US girls were named Taraji.

How popular is the name Taraji?

Taraji ranked #7,491 for US girls in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 2010, when it reached #680. Over the last five years it has slipped 4,779 places.

What names are similar to Taraji?

If you like Taraji, you might also like Hope, Nadia, Esperanza and Amal.

What should I know before naming my baby Taraji?

Taraji is an African and Swahili girl name meaning “hope”. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.