UK girl's name
Amoya
A feminine name with uncertain origins, possibly derived from Arabic meaning "my protector".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Amoya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Amoya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2004 to 2011. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Amoya. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Amoya ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 3 girls were registered as Amoya.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Amoya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Amoya mean?
The name Amoya has its origins in the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Togo, and Benin. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 15th centuries, when the Yoruba kingdom was at its peak.
Amoya is derived from the Yoruba words "amo" meaning "to catch" or "to embrace," and "oya" meaning "honey" or "sweetness." Thus, the name can be interpreted as "one who embraces sweetness" or "one who catches sweetness." This could be a reference to a person's gentle, affectionate, or nurturing nature.
The name Amoya is not widely referenced in ancient texts or religious scriptures from West Africa, as many oral traditions and naming practices were passed down through generations without written records. However, it is likely that the name was used within Yoruba communities during the medieval period and beyond.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Amoya can be found in the writings of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba scholar and the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria, who lived from 1809 to 1891. In his works, he mentioned individuals with the name Amoya, indicating its usage among the Yoruba people in the 19th century.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Amoya:
1. Amoya Akinnuoye (1880-1964), a Nigerian teacher and education pioneer who established one of the first schools for girls in Lagos, Nigeria. 2. Amoya Brodber (1940-2019), a Jamaican novelist, scholar, and activist known for her contributions to Caribbean literature and cultural studies. 3. Amoya Sim (born 1968), a South African artist and sculptor renowned for her intricate wire sculptures and installations. 4. Amoya Kessie (born 1982), a Ghanaian-American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the sustainable clothing brand "Amoya Kessie." 5. Amoya Ayoola (born 1993), a Nigerian-American actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films.
While the name Amoya may not be as widely known as some other names from West Africa, it carries a rich cultural heritage and a unique meaning that reflects the values and traditions of the Yoruba people.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Amoya over time
The chart below shows babies named Amoya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Amoya, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Amoya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Amoya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4598 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Amoya
- 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
Amoya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Amoya in the UK right now?
In 2011, Amoya was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Amoya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 3 babies registered as Amoya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Amoya?
A feminine name with uncertain origins, possibly derived from Arabic meaning "my protector".
How many people are called Amoya in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Amoya across the 2 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.