rao

Rao is a surname and given name used in South Asia, and it has also historically functioned as a noble title in parts of India. In Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, and related languages, Rao has long served as an honorific indicating leadership or royalty, and over time it became a common family name carried by descendants of those who bore the title.

As a given name, Rao appears in various contexts within South Indian and Marathi communities, where it may be used alongside other elements of a person’s full name.

Notable individuals with the surname include C. N. Rao, an Indian chemist and Bharat Ratna recipient, among others in science, politics, and the arts. The name is widespread across Indian states and among the global Indian diaspora, reflecting regional practices of naming and inheritance.

Geographically, Rao is most prevalent in India but has spread worldwide through migration. It is commonly found among Indian communities in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific, where it appears across professions and public life. The surname’s usage spans various communities, and transliterations may vary, though Rao remains the most common form in English-language contexts.