raja

Raja is a term with several distinct senses in language, culture, and science. In Sanskrit and many Indian languages, rājā means “king” or “ruler.” It has given rise to a family of royal titles, such as maharāja (great king) and the Anglicized Rajah/Raja used in historical and literary contexts. The word also functions as a common personal name and appears in place names across parts of South and Southeast Asia. In Indonesian and Malay, raja similarly means “king,” reflecting shared linguistic and cultural heritage.

In biology, Raja is the name of a genus of skates, which are cartilaginous fishes in the family Rajidae. Species within Raja are found in temperate and tropical seas around the world. They are typically bottom-dwellers with broad, flat bodies and wing-like pectoral fins, and they reproduce by internal fertilization, with species varying in egg-laying or live-bearing strategies.

Beyond royalty and science, Raja is used as a given name or surname and appears in various cultural works, including films and literature, often carrying connotations of leadership or nobility. The term thus serves as a cross-cultural signifier of sovereignty and authority, while also functioning as a zoological name with a separate scientific meaning.