UK name, mostly girls
Ayat
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "a sign from God" or "verse".
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.
Ayat is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Ayat popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #205, with 238 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 266 births.
This profile covers 2,208 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1999 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 89% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,286 living people in the UK are called Ayat. 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
- • Ayat ranked #205 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 238 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 266 girls were registered as Ayat.
- • Ayat ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #541 in 2024.
- • About 2,286 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ayat as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.1% of Ayat registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#205
2024
Births in 2024
238
Latest year
Peak year
2021
266 births
Estimated living
2,286
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ayat
In England and Wales birth records, Ayat has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.9% of registrations are for boys and 99.1% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Ayat registered for boys
- Ranked #3,848 in 2020
- 4 boys registered in 2020
- Peak: 2017 (7 births)
Ayat registered for girls
- Ranked #205 in 2024
- 238 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2021 (266 births)
Meaning
What does Ayat mean?
The given name Ayat is derived from the Arabic language and has its roots in Islamic culture. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian Peninsula, during the early days of Islam around the 7th century CE.
The name Ayat is derived from the Arabic word "ayah," which means "sign," "verse," or "evidence." In the context of Islamic scripture, an ayah refers to a verse of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. The name Ayat, therefore, carries a significant religious connotation and is closely associated with the teachings of Islam.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ayat can be found in the Quran itself, where the word "ayah" is mentioned numerous times, emphasizing the importance of signs and verses as a means of guidance and understanding the divine message.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ayat. One of the earliest known figures was Ayat Al-Kurdi (born in the late 9th century CE), a renowned female poet and scholar from the Kurdish region of present-day Iraq. Her poetry and literary works were widely celebrated during her lifetime and have been preserved for centuries.
Another prominent figure was Ayat Al-Nisaburi (born in the 11th century CE), a Persian scholar and historian who authored several influential works on Islamic history and jurisprudence. His book "Al-Ghara'ib" (The Wonders) was particularly significant, documenting various aspects of Islamic culture and traditions.
In more recent times, Ayat Najafi (1892-1963) was an Iranian politician and religious scholar who played a crucial role in the constitutional revolution of Iran in the early 20th century. He advocated for democratic reforms and the separation of religion and state.
Ayat Alkhresheh (born in 1931) is a Jordanian writer and novelist known for her contributions to Arabic literature. Her novels explore themes of social issues, women's rights, and the complexities of modern Arab societies.
Ayat Al-Qarmazi (born in 1974) is a Bahraini activist and human rights defender who has been a vocal advocate for democracy and civil liberties in her country. She has faced persecution for her activism but continues to be a prominent voice for human rights in the Gulf region.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Ayat throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields such as literature, scholarship, politics, and activism, reflecting the diverse and rich tapestry of cultures and societies where the name has been present.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ayat over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ayat in England and Wales, from 1999 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 Ayat, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 238 births in 2024, compared with 266 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ayat by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ayat 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 | #205 | 1,209 | 5 |
| 2010s | #617 | 914 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2334 | 82 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Ayat is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ayat. 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.
Ayat ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #541 in 2024.
Across the UK
Ayat in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#541 in 2024
13 years of NRS records, 88 total registered
Related
Names similar to Ayat
- 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
Ayat: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ayat in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ayat was ranked #205 for girls in England and Wales, with 238 births registered.
When was Ayat most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 266 babies registered as Ayat in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ayat?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "a sign from God" or "verse".
How many people are called Ayat in the UK?
A total of 2,208 babies have been registered as Ayat across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 88 more in Scotland.
Where is Ayat most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Ayat 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.