UK girl's name
Kayah
A feminine name of Aboriginal Australian origin meaning "rejoice".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 10 births.
This profile covers 109 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2001 to 2023. 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 108 living people in the UK are called Kayah. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kayah ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 10 girls were registered as Kayah.
- • About 108 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2009
10 births
Estimated living
108
2026
Meaning
What does Kayah mean?
The name Kayah is believed to have its origins in the ancient Siamese language, which was spoken in the region that is now modern-day Thailand. It is thought to be derived from the word "khaya," which means "prosperous" or "flourishing." The earliest known use of the name dates back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which ruled over much of what is now central Thailand from the 14th to the 18th century.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Kayah was a prominent Thai prince who lived during the 16th century. Prince Kayah was a member of the royal family and served as a trusted advisor to King Narai, who ruled from 1656 to 1688. He was known for his wisdom and diplomatic skills, and played a key role in negotiating treaties and fostering relations with neighboring kingdoms.
In the centuries that followed, the name Kayah continued to be used in various parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in areas with strong cultural ties to Thailand. One notable figure was Kayah Sri Indraditya, a Cambodian prince who lived in the 19th century and played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence from French colonial rule.
Another individual of historical importance was Kayah Bunnag, a Thai diplomat and statesman who lived from 1808 to 1885. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) and was instrumental in establishing diplomatic relations with many Western nations, helping to modernize and protect Siam's sovereignty during a period of colonial expansion in the region.
In the realm of literature, the name Kayah is associated with Kayah Sirisena, a renowned Thai poet and writer who lived from 1909 to 1987. Her works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality, played a significant role in shaping modern Thai literature and promoting the use of the Thai language in literary circles.
While the name Kayah has its roots in Thailand and Southeast Asia, it has gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in recent decades. However, to maintain the focus on the historical context and origins of the name, it is important to note that these more recent examples are beyond the scope of this report.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kayah over time
The chart below shows babies named Kayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kayah, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kayah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kayah 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 | #3929 | 16 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3473 | 61 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3622 | 32 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Kayah
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Kayah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kayah in the UK right now?
In 2023, Kayah was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kayah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 10 babies registered as Kayah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kayah?
A feminine name of Aboriginal Australian origin meaning "rejoice".
How many people are called Kayah in the UK?
A total of 109 babies have been registered as Kayah across the 18 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.