NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Bayan

Feminine Muslim name of Arabic origin meaning "eloquent" or "expressive".

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.

Bayan is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Bayan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2115, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 16 births.

This profile covers 175 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 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 81% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 174 living people in the UK are called Bayan. 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

  • Bayan ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2020, when 16 girls were registered as Bayan.
  • About 174 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bayan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 97.8% of Bayan registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2115

2024

Births in 2024

13

Latest year

Peak year

2020

16 births

Estimated living

174

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Bayan

In England and Wales birth records, Bayan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 2.2% of registrations are for boys and 97.8% 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.

98% girls
Boys4 (2.2%)Girls175 (97.8%)

Bayan registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,990 in 2021
  • 4 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2021 (4 births)

Bayan registered for girls

  • Ranked #2,115 in 2024
  • 13 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2020 (16 births)

Meaning

What does Bayan mean?

The name Bayan has its origins in various cultures and languages across Asia and the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "bayan," which means "eloquence" or "clarity of speech." The name first emerged during the medieval period in the Islamic world, where it was associated with poets, writers, and scholars known for their mastery of language and rhetoric.

In the Persian language, the name Bayan is also used and has a similar meaning, referring to eloquence and the art of expression. It was a popular name among the literary and intellectual circles of medieval Persia, where poetry and literature flourished under the patronage of powerful dynasties.

The name Bayan has also been used in the Turkic languages, such as Turkish and Uzbek, where it carries the same meaning of eloquence and clarity of speech. It was a common name among the nomadic Turkic tribes that roamed the vast steppes of Central Asia, where oral traditions and storytelling played a significant role in preserving cultural heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bayan can be found in the Persian epic poem "Shahnameh" (Book of Kings), written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century. In this epic, Bayan is mentioned as the name of a character known for his wisdom and eloquence.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Bayan. One of the most famous was Bayan al-Mawsili (932-1039), an Arab musician and poet from Baghdad, renowned for his contributions to the development of Arabic music and poetry during the Abbasid Caliphate.

Another notable figure was Bayan Quli Khan Qaramanlu (1472-1492), a ruler of the Qaramanlu Turkmen dynasty in what is now northwestern Iran and eastern Turkey. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts to consolidate power in the region.

In the Mongol Empire, Bayan of the Baarin (1285-1340) was a prominent military leader and advisor to Khagan Ögedei, the second Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He played a crucial role in the expansion and administration of the vast Mongol territories.

During the Ottoman era, Bayan Sultana (1768-1824) was a prominent figure in the Ottoman imperial harem. She was the favorite consort of Sultan Abdülhamid I and served as the Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) during the reign of her son, Sultan Mahmud II.

In modern times, Bayan Nur (1918-2005) was a renowned Mongolian writer, poet, and translator. She played a significant role in preserving and promoting Mongolian literature and culture, and her works were widely celebrated both within Mongolia and internationally.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Bayan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Bayan in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Bayan, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 16 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0591418199620102024

Decades

Bayan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bayan 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 #1954 71 5
2010s #3610 79 10
2000s #3603 18 4
1990s #3469 7 2

Related

Names similar to Bayan

FAQ

Bayan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Bayan was ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.

When was Bayan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2020, with 16 babies registered as Bayan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Bayan?

Feminine Muslim name of Arabic origin meaning "eloquent" or "expressive".

How many people are called Bayan in the UK?

A total of 175 babies have been registered as Bayan across the 21 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.