UK girl's name
Abinaya
A feminine Hindu Indian name meaning "acting, drama, or performance".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Abinaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Abinaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 11 births.
This profile covers 95 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1997 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 94 living people in the UK are called Abinaya. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Abinaya ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 11 girls were registered as Abinaya.
- • About 94 living people in the UK are estimated to have Abinaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
11 births
Estimated living
94
2026
Meaning
What does Abinaya mean?
The name Abinaya has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient language of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the root words "abhi" meaning "towards" or "unto" and "naya" meaning "to lead" or "to guide." The name loosely translates to "one who guides" or "one who leads."
In Hindu mythology, the name Abinaya finds mention in the Natya Shastra, an ancient Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts. It is associated with the concept of abhinaya, which refers to the expression of emotions through gestures and movements in classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abinaya can be traced back to the 5th century CE. Abinaya Nandini, a renowned dancer and courtesan, is mentioned in the Pratima Nataka, a Sanskrit play written during the Gupta period.
In the 16th century, Abinaya Sundari, a celebrated Devadasi (temple dancer) from the Vijayanagar Empire, was known for her exceptional dancing skills and is remembered for her contributions to the art form.
Abinaya Ravi, born in 1958, is a prominent Indian classical dancer and choreographer who has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, for her work in promoting and preserving the Bharatanatyam dance tradition.
Abinaya Venkatesan, born in 1992, is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and actress who has performed extensively both in India and abroad. She has received several awards, including the Nritya Chudamani and Kalaimamani titles.
Abinaya Ramesh, born in 1986, is a notable Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer who has won critical acclaim for her innovative performances that blend traditional and contemporary elements.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Abinaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Abinaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Abinaya, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Abinaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Abinaya was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4710 | 30 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2974 | 59 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Abinaya
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Abinaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Abinaya in the UK right now?
In 2023, Abinaya was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Abinaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 11 babies registered as Abinaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Abinaya?
A feminine Hindu Indian name meaning "acting, drama, or performance".
How many people are called Abinaya in the UK?
A total of 95 babies have been registered as Abinaya across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.