UK boy's name
Avishai
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "my father is a gift".
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.
Avishai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Avishai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 5 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2008 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Avishai. 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
- • Avishai ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 5 boys were registered as Avishai.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Avishai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
5 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Meaning
What does Avishai mean?
The name Avishai originates from Hebrew, derived from the elements "av" meaning father and "shai" meaning gift or present. It can be interpreted as "my father's gift" or "gift of my father." The name's roots trace back to ancient Israel, where it was used among the Hebrew people during biblical times.
In the Hebrew Bible, the name Avishai appears as a prominent figure and is mentioned in several contexts. One notable reference is found in the Book of Samuel, where Avishai is depicted as a warrior and one of King David's chief military commanders. He is described as a valiant and loyal soldier who played a significant role in David's military campaigns.
The earliest recorded use of the name Avishai can be traced back to the 11th century BCE, during the reign of King David in ancient Israel. However, it is likely that the name was in use even earlier among the Israelite tribes.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Avishai. One of the most well-known is Avishai Braverman (1948-1976), an Israeli soldier and politician who served in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) and was killed in action during the 1976 Lebanon War.
Another prominent figure is Avishai Margalit (1939-2022), an Israeli philosopher and author who made significant contributions to the fields of ethics, political philosophy, and human rights.
Avishai Dekel (born 1977) is an Israeli professional basketball player who has represented the Israeli national team and played in various professional leagues around the world.
Avishai Cohen (born 1970) is a renowned Israeli jazz bassist and composer who has collaborated with many influential musicians and has released numerous critically acclaimed albums.
Avishai Raviv (born 1975) is an Israeli computer scientist and entrepreneur, known for co-founding the cybersecurity company Cynet and his contributions to the field of cyber threat intelligence.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Avishai throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence and significance across various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Avishai over time
The chart below shows babies named Avishai registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 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 Avishai, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Avishai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Avishai 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 | #4227 | 8 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4695 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Avishai
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Avishai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Avishai in the UK right now?
In 2024, Avishai was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Avishai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 5 babies registered as Avishai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Avishai?
A masculine Hebrew name meaning "my father is a gift".
How many people are called Avishai in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Avishai across the 6 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.