NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Laina

Of Arabic origin meaning "gentle and tender".

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.

Laina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Laina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 10 births.

This profile covers 162 England and Wales registrations across 26 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 164 living people in the UK are called Laina. 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

  • Laina ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2019, when 10 girls were registered as Laina.
  • Laina ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #640 in 2002.
  • About 164 living people in the UK are estimated to have Laina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2019

10 births

Estimated living

164

2026

Meaning

What does Laina mean?

The name Laina has its origins in the Finnish language and culture. It is derived from the Finnish word "laina," which means "loan" or "borrowed." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in Finland, a region with a rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Laina can be found in the Finnish epic poem "Kalevala," which dates back to the 19th century. The poem is a collection of folklore and mythology from the Finnish and Karelian regions, and it serves as a significant piece of Finnish literary heritage.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Laina. One such person was Laina Talvio (1871-1936), a Finnish writer and journalist known for her novels and short stories that explored themes of Finnish identity and women's rights. Her works were influential in shaping the literary landscape of her time.

Another notable bearer of the name was Laina Leino (1908-1991), a Finnish sculptor and artist. Leino's works often depicted human figures and reflected her interest in the human form and emotions. Her sculptures can be found in various public spaces and museums across Finland.

In the realm of sports, Laina Nurminen (1908-1970) was a Finnish athlete who competed in the discus throw and shot put events. She won a silver medal in the discus throw at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, cementing her place in Finnish sporting history.

Moving to the field of music, Laina Kaarina Kangas (born 1947) is a Finnish singer and actress. She has had a successful career in both the music industry and on stage, performing in various musicals and plays throughout Finland.

Lastly, Laina Lainen (born 1939) is a Finnish former politician who served as a member of the Finnish Parliament from 1975 to 1995. She was actively involved in promoting women's rights and advocating for gender equality during her political career.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Laina throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Finland and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Laina over time

The chart below shows babies named Laina 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 Laina, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Laina
035810199620102024

Decades

Laina by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Laina 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 #4007 31 5
2010s #3916 56 10
2000s #2688 57 8
1990s #2424 18 3

Geography

Where Laina is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Laina. 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.

Laina ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #640 in 2002.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Laina in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#640 in 2002

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Laina

FAQ

Laina: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Laina was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Laina most popular?

The peak year on record was 2019, with 10 babies registered as Laina in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Laina?

Of Arabic origin meaning "gentle and tender".

How many people are called Laina in the UK?

A total of 162 babies have been registered as Laina across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Laina most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Laina ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #640 in 2002. 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.