UK girl's name
Hiya
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "a ray of light".
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.
Hiya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Hiya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 11 births.
This profile covers 82 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2005 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.
Hiya is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 82 living people in the UK are called Hiya. 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
- • Hiya ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 11 girls were registered as Hiya.
- • About 82 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hiya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2024
11 births
Estimated living
82
2026
Meaning
What does Hiya mean?
The name Hiya originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "hiya," which means "heart" or "soul." The name gained popularity across the Indian subcontinent during the classical period of Indian history.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hiya can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Hiya is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandava princes. This reference suggests that the name was in use among the warrior class of the time.
During the Gupta Empire, which ruled over much of northern India from the 4th to the 6th century CE, the name Hiya became more widespread. Several historical records from this period mention individuals bearing this name, indicating its popularity among the nobility and ruling classes.
In the 8th century CE, a famous Indian mathematician and astronomer named Hiya Bhaskara made significant contributions to the field of mathematics. His works, including the "Hiya Siddhanta," a treatise on astronomical calculations, are widely studied and referenced even today.
Another notable figure in Indian history with the name Hiya was Hiya Devi, a 10th-century queen of the Chandela dynasty. She was known for her patronage of art and architecture, and several temples and monuments were built under her reign, including the famous Khajuraho temples.
During the Mughal period in India, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Hiya gained further popularity. One of the most prominent figures from this era was Hiya Khan, a renowned military commander who served under the Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was known for his bravery and strategic skills in various battles.
Over the centuries, the name Hiya has remained a popular choice in various regions of India, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. It has also been adopted by other cultures and communities, with variations in spelling and pronunciation.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hiya over time
The chart below shows babies named Hiya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Hiya, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hiya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hiya 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 | #3143 | 40 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4652 | 23 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4727 | 19 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Hiya
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Hiya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hiya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hiya was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Hiya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 11 babies registered as Hiya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hiya?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "a ray of light".
How many people are called Hiya in the UK?
A total of 82 babies have been registered as Hiya across the 15 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.