What is Raj Koothrappali's full first name?

Raj Koothrappali's full first name is Rajesh. In The Big Bang Theory, he is generally called Raj, but his character's full name is Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali.

Raj is an astrophysicist from New Delhi, India, portrayed by British-Indian actor Kunal Nayyar. He works at Caltech alongside Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter and becomes one of the show's core four male characters. His professional specialty is astrophysics, and the series portrays him as highly knowledgeable about space and scientific research.

A major early storyline involves Raj's selective mutism: for much of the series, he struggles to speak to women unless he has consumed alcohol or taken medication. That limitation eventually changes during the sixth season. His friendships, especially with Howard Wolowitz, are another recurring part of his character arc.

Viewers sometimes confuse Rajesh with names such as Rahul or Rakesh, but those are not Raj's given name in the series. “Raj” is a shortened form used regularly by his friends, while “Rajesh Ramayan Koothrappali” is the fuller character name.