UK girl's name
Ayana
A feminine name of Japanese origin meaning "my colorful one".
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.
Ayana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ayana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #510, with 77 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 104 births.
This profile covers 1,324 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 74% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,361 living people in the UK are called Ayana. 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
- • Ayana ranked #510 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 77 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 104 girls were registered as Ayana.
- • Ayana ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #541 in 2024.
- • About 1,361 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ayana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#510
2024
Births in 2024
77
Latest year
Peak year
2019
104 births
Estimated living
1,361
2026
Meaning
What does Ayana mean?
The name Ayana has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "ayana," which means "path" or "journey." In Hindu mythology, the word "ayana" refers to the six-month period during which the sun travels towards the north or south.
Ayana is also a feminine name of Japanese origin, where it can be written using different kanji characters with meanings such as "colorful," "beautiful," or "path." It is a popular name in Japan and has been used for centuries.
In Arabic, the name Ayana (sometimes spelled as Aayana or Ayana) means "beautiful," "radiant," or "eyes." It is derived from the Arabic root word "ayn," which means "eye" or "source." The name has been used in various Arabic-speaking countries, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ayana can be found in ancient Indian texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, where it appears in connection with astronomical and astrological references.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ayana. One example is Ayana Mathis (born 1973), an American author and novelist best known for her debut novel "The Twelve Tribes of Hattie," which was widely acclaimed and won several literary awards.
Another prominent figure is Ayana Samiya (born 1971), a Japanese singer and actress who has released numerous albums and appeared in various television shows and films.
In the realm of sports, Ayana Gehrig (born 1987) is a Swiss track and field athlete who specializes in the 800 meters and has represented Switzerland in multiple international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Ayana Shavit (born 1978) is an Israeli actress and model who has appeared in various television series and films, both in Israel and internationally.
Ayana Kontora (born 1968) is a Ukrainian-born Russian chess player who achieved the title of Woman Grandmaster and has won numerous chess tournaments throughout her career.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Ayana throughout history, demonstrating its widespread use and cultural significance across different regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ayana over time
The chart below shows babies named Ayana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Ayana, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 77 births in 2024, compared with 104 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ayana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ayana 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 | #532 | 375 | 5 |
| 2010s | #537 | 800 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1948 | 135 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2920 | 14 | 3 |
Geography
Where Ayana is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ayana. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Ayana ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #541 in 2024.
Across the UK
Ayana in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#541 in 2024
10 years of NRS records, 43 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ayana
-
Ayana Deva Angadi
writer; journalist; promoter
Indian journalist and arts promoter
1903-1993
Related
Names similar to Ayana
- 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
Ayana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ayana in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ayana was ranked #510 for girls in England and Wales, with 77 births registered.
When was Ayana most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 104 babies registered as Ayana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ayana?
A feminine name of Japanese origin meaning "my colorful one".
How many people are called Ayana in the UK?
A total of 1,324 babies have been registered as Ayana across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 43 more in Scotland.
Where is Ayana most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Ayana ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #541 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.