UK girl's name
Kriya
A Sanskrit word meaning "action, deed" or "spiritual practice".
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.
Kriya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Kriya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3218, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 7 births.
This profile covers 46 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2007 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.
Kriya is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 46 living people in the UK are called Kriya. 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
- • Kriya ranked #3218 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 7 girls were registered as Kriya.
- • About 46 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kriya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3218
2023
Births in 2023
7
Latest year
Peak year
2023
7 births
Estimated living
46
2026
Meaning
What does Kriya mean?
The name Kriya originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Hindu scriptures and philosophies. It is derived from the word "kriya," which means action, ritual, or practice in Sanskrit. The name is closely associated with the spiritual and yogic traditions of India.
In Hinduism, the term "kriya" holds great significance and refers to various spiritual practices, rituals, and ceremonies performed to attain spiritual growth and liberation. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, an ancient Hindu text written around 400 CE, extensively discusses the concept of "kriya yoga," which involves the practice of specific actions and disciplines to achieve self-realization.
The earliest recorded usage of the name Kriya can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts on yoga and spirituality. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time period when it started being used as a personal name. Historically, the name Kriya has been associated with individuals who have devoted their lives to spiritual pursuits and the practice of yoga.
One of the most notable figures in history who bore the name Kriya was Kriya Narayana, a revered Hindu saint and yogi who lived in the 19th century (1826-1899). He was a prominent disciple of the renowned spiritual master Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and played a crucial role in spreading the teachings of Vedanta philosophy and yoga in India and abroad.
Another historical figure with the name Kriya was Kriya Pradipika, a renowned Indian sage and yogi who authored the influential Sanskrit text "Kriya Yoga Pradipika" in the 15th century. This text provides detailed instructions on the practice of kriya yoga and is considered a seminal work in the yogic tradition.
In more modern times, Kriya has been the name of several notable individuals, such as Kriya Bhushan Govinda Goswami (1889-1976), a renowned spiritual teacher and founder of the Gaudiya Vedanta Society in India, and Kriya Mangala Goswami (1913-1996), a prominent Indian spiritual leader and founder of the Radha Govinda Mandir in New York.
Additionally, the name Kriya has been adopted by individuals in various parts of the world, particularly those influenced by the teachings of yoga and Hinduism, as a way to honor and connect with the spiritual and philosophical traditions associated with the name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kriya over time
The chart below shows babies named Kriya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 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 Kriya, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2023, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kriya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kriya 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 | #4356 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4828 | 25 | 6 |
| 2000s | #3532 | 11 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Kriya
- 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
Kriya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kriya in the UK right now?
In 2023, Kriya was ranked #3218 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Kriya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 7 babies registered as Kriya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kriya?
A Sanskrit word meaning "action, deed" or "spiritual practice".
How many people are called Kriya in the UK?
A total of 46 babies have been registered as Kriya across the 10 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.