NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Keya

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "plant" or "ray".

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.

Keya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Keya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2771, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 24 births.

This profile covers 334 England and Wales registrations across 28 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 332 living people in the UK are called Keya. 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

  • Keya ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 24 girls were registered as Keya.
  • About 332 living people in the UK are estimated to have Keya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2771

2024

Births in 2024

9

Latest year

Peak year

2009

24 births

Estimated living

332

2026

Meaning

What does Keya mean?

The given name Keya is believed to have originated from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was the root of many modern Indian languages. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Kaya," which means "body" or "physical form." It is considered a feminine name, although its usage is not limited to a particular region or culture.

In Hindu mythology, the word "Kaya" holds significance as it is associated with the physical manifestation of the soul or the divine consciousness. It is believed that the name Keya may have been chosen to represent the embodiment of spiritual qualities or the connection between the physical and the ethereal realms.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Keya can be traced back to ancient Indian texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads. However, it is difficult to pinpoint specific historical figures from that era who bore this name, as record-keeping was not as comprehensive as it is today.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Keya was a Bengali poet and writer from the 16th century. Keya Dasa, born in 1545 in the village of Baliati, West Bengal, was renowned for his devotional poetry and his contribution to the Vaishnava literary tradition.

In more recent times, Keya Ghosh (1936-2014) was a renowned Indian classical singer and exponent of the Patiala gharana. She was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986 for her contributions to Hindustani classical music.

Keya Morgan (born 1976) is an American film producer and writer, best known for her association with the late actor Marlon Brando and her involvement in the management of his estate.

Keya Paha (1896-1988) was a Native American artist and member of the Omaha tribe. She was known for her intricate beadwork and her efforts to preserve and promote traditional Omaha culture.

Keya Mukherjee (born 1949) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, renowned for her expertise in the Odissi dance form. She has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.

While these are some notable individuals who have borne the name Keya throughout history, it is important to note that the name's popularity and usage may have varied across different cultures and time periods. The name's Sanskrit roots and symbolic meaning, however, remain a significant part of its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Keya over time

The chart below shows babies named Keya 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 Keya, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 24 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Keya
06121824199620102024

Decades

Keya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Keya 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 #3609 25 4
2010s #2587 123 10
2000s #1449 168 10
1990s #3070 18 4

Related

Names similar to Keya

FAQ

Keya: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Keya was ranked #2771 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Keya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 24 babies registered as Keya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Keya?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "plant" or "ray".

How many people are called Keya in the UK?

A total of 334 babies have been registered as Keya across the 28 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.