NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Avayah

A feminine name derived from the Hebrew "Avah" meaning "desire" or "longing".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Avayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Avayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1541, with 20 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 29 births.

This profile covers 221 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2012 to 2024. 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 69% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 220 living people in the UK are called Avayah. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Avayah ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 20 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 29 girls were registered as Avayah.
  • About 220 living people in the UK are estimated to have Avayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1541

2024

Births in 2024

20

Latest year

Peak year

2023

29 births

Estimated living

220

2026

Meaning

What does Avayah mean?

The name Avayah has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, tracing back to ancient times. It is believed to be derived from the Hebrew word "Avah," meaning "to pass away" or "to breathe one's last." This could suggest a connection to the cycle of life and mortality.

The name's roots can be found in various ancient Hebrew texts and scriptures, though its earliest recorded use is somewhat obscure. One of the earliest known individuals to bear this name was Avayah ben Aviyah, a Levite priest who lived during the 6th century BCE in ancient Israel.

Throughout history, the name Avayah has been carried by several noteworthy individuals. One such person was Avayah ha-Kohen, a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher from the 11th century CE in Spain. His writings and teachings had a significant impact on Jewish thought during the medieval period.

Another prominent figure with this name was Avayah ben Eliyahu, a 12th-century Jewish scholar and poet from Provence, France. He is best known for his compositions in Hebrew poetry and his contributions to the field of Jewish liturgy.

In the 15th century, Avayah ben Yosef Abulafia was a renowned Kabbalist and mystic from Spain. His works on Jewish mysticism and esoteric teachings were highly influential in his time and continue to be studied by scholars today.

Lastly, Avayah Leibowitz, born in 1921 and passed away in 2022, was a prominent Israeli author and scholar. She dedicated her life to the study and promotion of Jewish values and ethics, authoring numerous books and articles on these subjects.

While the name Avayah may have fallen out of widespread use in recent times, its historical significance and deep-rooted connections to ancient Hebrew culture and traditions remain intact. Its meaning and the stories of those who have borne this name serve as a testament to the rich tapestry of human history and cultural diversity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Avayah over time

The chart below shows babies named Avayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Avayah, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 20 births in 2024, compared with 29 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Avayah
07152229201220182024

Decades

Avayah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Avayah 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 #1398 115 5
2010s #2754 106 8

Related

Names similar to Avayah

FAQ

Avayah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Avayah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Avayah was ranked #1541 for girls in England and Wales, with 20 births registered.

When was Avayah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 29 babies registered as Avayah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Avayah?

A feminine name derived from the Hebrew "Avah" meaning "desire" or "longing".

How many people are called Avayah in the UK?

A total of 221 babies have been registered as Avayah across the 13 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.