UK boy's name
Koray
A masculine Turkish name meaning "one who protects or guards".
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.
Koray is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Koray popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 15 births.
This profile covers 227 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 229 living people in the UK are called Koray. 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
- • Koray ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 15 boys were registered as Koray.
- • Koray ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #587 in 2014.
- • About 229 living people in the UK are estimated to have Koray as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2012
15 births
Estimated living
229
2026
Meaning
What does Koray mean?
The name Koray originates from the Turkish language and culture, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old Turkic word "qora," which means "black" or "dark," and the suffix "-y," which is a common name-forming element in Turkic languages. The name was initially used to describe someone with dark features or complexion.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Koray was Koray Bey, a prominent military commander who served under the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan in the late 11th century. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Seljuk Empire and the battle against the Byzantine Empire.
In the 13th century, the name Koray appeared in the epic poem "Dede Korkut," which is a collection of stories and legends from the Oghuz Turks. The poem mentions a character named Koray Oglu, who is depicted as a brave and skilled warrior.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Koray. One of the most famous was Koray Avcı (1898-1976), a Turkish military officer and politician who served as the Minister of National Defense and later as the Prime Minister of Turkey in the 1960s.
Another prominent figure was Koray Düzgünoglu (1931-2014), a renowned Turkish actor and director. He was best known for his roles in numerous films and television series, and his contributions to the Turkish entertainment industry spanned over six decades.
In the realm of sports, Koray Şahingöz (born 1986) is a professional basketball player who has represented the Turkish national team and played for various clubs in Turkey and Europe.
Koray Kantarcı (born 1979) is a Turkish singer and songwriter who has released several successful albums and has been a prominent figure in the Turkish music industry since the early 2000s.
Lastly, Koray Aydın (born 1963) is a Turkish engineer and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of computer science and has served as the rector of Yıldız Technical University in Istanbul.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Koray throughout history, showcasing its enduring presence and significance within the Turkish culture and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Koray over time
The chart below shows babies named Koray 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 Koray, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Koray by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Koray 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 | #3678 | 21 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2303 | 96 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2003 | 79 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1586 | 31 | 4 |
Geography
Where Koray is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Koray. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Koray ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #587 in 2014.
Across the UK
Koray in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#587 in 2014
1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered
Related
Names similar to Koray
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Koray: questions and answers
How popular is the name Koray in the UK right now?
In 2024, Koray was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Koray most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 15 babies registered as Koray in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Koray?
A masculine Turkish name meaning "one who protects or guards".
How many people are called Koray in the UK?
A total of 227 babies have been registered as Koray across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.
Where is Koray most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Koray ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #587 in 2014. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.