UK girl's name
Gaya
A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "gaya" meaning "home" or "sacred place".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4294, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2007 to 2007. 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.
Gaya is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Gaya. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gaya ranked #4294 for girls in England and Wales in 2007, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 girls were registered as Gaya.
- • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4294
2007
Births in 2007
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
4
2026
Meaning
What does Gaya mean?
The name Gaya is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "gaya," which means "dwelling place" or "home." It is also associated with the city of Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar, which is considered a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus.
In Hindu mythology, Gaya is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as the place where Lord Vishnu's avatar, Lord Rama, is said to have performed a ritual to honor his deceased ancestors. The city of Gaya is also believed to be the location where the sage Vishvamitra attained enlightenment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gaya can be found in the ancient Indian literature, such as the Puranas and the Vedas. These texts mention several individuals with the name Gaya, including a sage and a king.
Throughout history, the name Gaya has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Gaya Prasad Shukla (1853-1931), an Indian scholar, writer, and educationist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. He was also the first Indian to serve as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Allahabad.
Another prominent figure with the name Gaya was Gaya Charan Shukla (1886-1971), an Indian politician and freedom fighter who served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 1946 to 1947. He was also a member of the Constituent Assembly of India, which drafted the country's constitution.
In the field of literature, Gaya Prasad Tripathi (1904-1983) was a renowned Hindi writer and poet. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian honors in India, for his contributions to Hindi literature.
Gaya Prasad Pandey (1913-1987) was an Indian diplomat and politician who served as the Governor of Orissa from 1981 to 1984. He was also the Indian Ambassador to several countries, including the United States and the Soviet Union.
Lastly, Gaya Prasad Narain (1896-1957) was an Indian civil servant and economist who served as the President of the Indian Economic Association from 1952 to 1953. He played a significant role in shaping India's economic policies in the post-independence era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Gaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gaya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4294 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Gaya
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Gaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gaya in the UK right now?
In 2007, Gaya was ranked #4294 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Gaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Gaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gaya?
A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word "gaya" meaning "home" or "sacred place".
How many people are called Gaya in the UK?
A total of 4 babies have been registered as Gaya across the 1 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.