UK name, mostly girls
Diya
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "light" or "lamp".
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.
Diya is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Diya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #767, with 49 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 136 births.
This profile covers 2,011 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,028 living people in the UK are called Diya. 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
- • Diya ranked #767 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 49 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 136 girls were registered as Diya.
- • Diya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
- • About 2,028 living people in the UK are estimated to have Diya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.9% of Diya registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#767
2024
Births in 2024
49
Latest year
Peak year
2007
136 births
Estimated living
2,028
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Diya
In England and Wales birth records, Diya has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.1% of registrations are for boys and 99.9% 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.
Diya registered for boys
- Ranked #4,432 in 2008
- 3 boys registered in 2008
- Peak: 2008 (3 births)
Diya registered for girls
- Ranked #767 in 2024
- 49 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (136 births)
Meaning
What does Diya mean?
The name Diya originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture, dating back to the first millennium BCE. The word "diya" in Sanskrit means "lamp" or "light," and it is believed that the name was initially given to children with the wish for them to be a guiding light or source of illumination in the world.
In Hindu mythology, the diya or lamp holds significant symbolism. It represents the dispelling of darkness and ignorance, and the lighting of a diya is an essential part of many Hindu festivals and rituals. The name Diya is therefore closely associated with these spiritual and cultural traditions.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Diya can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Puranas, which are a collection of narratives and legends that date back to the first few centuries CE. However, it is likely that the name was in use even before these written records.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Diya. One of the earliest recorded examples is Diya Kumari (1835-1898), who was a Rajput princess and the last ruling monarch of the princely state of Sirmoor in present-day Himachal Pradesh, India.
Another important figure was Diya Avasthi (1901-1944), an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary who actively participated in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. She was imprisoned multiple times for her involvement in the struggle for freedom.
In more recent times, Diya Mirza (born 1981) is an Indian actress, model, and producer who has appeared in several Bollywood films and is also known for her philanthropic work and advocacy for various social causes.
Diya Abdo (born 1983) is a Palestinian-American writer and academic, known for her work on gender, sexuality, and Arab feminism. Her book "Territories of Violence: Decolonial Feminism from the Diaspora" explores the intersections of race, gender, and colonialism.
Additionally, Diya Kamble (born 1988) is an Indian cricketer who has represented the national women's cricket team and is considered one of the best all-rounders in the sport's history.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Diya throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human endeavor.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Diya over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Diya 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 Diya, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 49 births in 2024, compared with 136 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Diya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Diya 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 | #735 | 251 | 5 |
| 2010s | #486 | 954 | 10 |
| 2000s | #691 | 792 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3503 | 14 | 4 |
Geography
Where Diya is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Diya. 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.
Diya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #790 in 2024.
Across the UK
Diya in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#790 in 2024
8 years of NRS records, 27 total registered
Related
Names similar to Diya
- Daisy 49,435
- Danielle 13,507
- Darcie 11,010
- Darcy 10,516
- Darcey 9,708
- Delilah 9,098
- Demi 9,052
- Daniella 4,324
- Destiny 3,732
- Diana 3,258
- Dorothy 3,104
- Dolly 2,246
FAQ
Diya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Diya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Diya was ranked #767 for girls in England and Wales, with 49 births registered.
When was Diya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 136 babies registered as Diya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Diya?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "light" or "lamp".
How many people are called Diya in the UK?
A total of 2,011 babies have been registered as Diya across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 27 more in Scotland.
Where is Diya most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Diya ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #790 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.