Ranj is a short form of Ranjit, a name widely used in India, particularly in Hindi-speaking regions. Ranjit itself originates from Sanskrit रञ्जित (rañjita), meaning "coloured, pleased, delighted." Thus, Ranj inherits the sense of joy or satisfaction associated with its longer form, though it is often used as a standalone informal or familiar name.Notable bearers of the root name Ranjit include Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839), the Sikh founder of the powerful empire that ruled across most of Punjab and Kashmir in the early 19th century. Related variants are Ranjeet in Marathi and simply Ranjit in the same language.Other forms such as Ranjana (a longer feminine equivalent) share the same Sanskrit root. While Ranj is predominantly a given name, it should not be confused with the homonymous script code “Ranj” (ISO 15924) for the Ranjana writing system.