NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Hanya

A feminine Arabic name meaning "joy, happiness".

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.

Hanya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hanya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 10 births.

This profile covers 102 England and Wales registrations across 20 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 101 living people in the UK are called Hanya. 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

  • Hanya ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 10 girls were registered as Hanya.
  • About 101 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hanya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2018

10 births

Estimated living

101

2026

Meaning

What does Hanya mean?

The name Hanya originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "hanya," which means "to strike down" or "to conquer." It is closely related to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is often depicted as a powerful warrior goddess slaying demons and conquering evil forces.

In Hindu mythology, Hanya is also associated with the concept of "aham-brahmasmi," which translates to "I am the Absolute" or "I am the Supreme Consciousness." This connection suggests that the name Hanya may have been bestowed upon individuals who were considered spiritually enlightened or possessed a deep understanding of the divine.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Hanya can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas. These sacred texts often mention the exploits of various deities and their devotees, some of whom may have borne the name Hanya.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who carried the name Hanya. One such figure was Hanya Narayana, a 16th-century Hindu philosopher and spiritual leader who authored several treatises on Advaita Vedanta, a non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Hanya Shrestha, a Nepalese poet and writer from the 19th century. Shrestha's works were influential in shaping the literary landscape of Nepal and are still widely studied and appreciated today.

In the realm of politics, Hanya Mukherjee was an influential figure in the Indian independence movement of the early 20th century. As a member of the Indian National Congress, she played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights and social reforms.

Hanya Holm, born in 1893, was a pioneering American dancer and choreographer who helped shape the modern dance movement in the United States. Her innovative techniques and choreographic works have left a lasting impact on the world of dance.

Lastly, Hanya Yanagihara is a contemporary American author and editor, best known for her critically acclaimed novel "A Little Life," which won several prestigious literary awards and brought her international recognition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hanya over time

The chart below shows babies named Hanya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Hanya, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Hanya
035810199620102024

Decades

Hanya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hanya 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 #4810 20 5
2010s #3548 52 8
2000s #4109 19 5
1990s #2619 11 2

Related

Names similar to Hanya

FAQ

Hanya: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Hanya was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Hanya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 10 babies registered as Hanya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hanya?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "joy, happiness".

How many people are called Hanya in the UK?

A total of 102 babies have been registered as Hanya across the 20 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.