NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Leiya

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Arabic "layla" meaning "night".

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.

Leiya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Leiya 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 2022, with 4 births.

This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2014 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Leiya. 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

  • Leiya ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 4 girls were registered as Leiya.
  • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Leiya 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

2022

4 births

Estimated living

11

2026

Meaning

What does Leiya mean?

The name Leiya is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "layla," which means "night" or "dark beauty." This name has been popular in the Middle Eastern region for centuries.

The earliest recorded use of the name Leiya can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age. It was a common name among Arab women during this time period. The name is mentioned in several ancient Arabic texts and poetry, often used to describe a beautiful and mysterious woman.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Leiya was Leiya bint Al-Amin, a renowned poet who lived in Baghdad during the 9th century CE. She was known for her eloquent verses and was highly respected in the literary circles of her time.

Another notable figure was Leiya Al-Andalusiya, a 10th-century Muslim scholar and writer from Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus). She was renowned for her contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy.

In the 12th century, Leiya Al-Hamdaniya was a famous female physician and philosopher from Damascus. She wrote several treatises on medicine and philosophy and was considered a pioneering figure in her field.

During the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, Leiya Sultan was a prominent figure in the imperial court. She was the daughter of Sultan Selim II and played an influential role in the politics of the time.

In more recent history, Leiya Gailani was an Iraqi archaeologist and historian who lived from 1892 to 1976. She was a pioneer in the field of Iraqi archaeology and played a significant role in preserving the country's cultural heritage.

While the name Leiya has its roots in the Arabic language, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures and regions over time, particularly in the Middle East and parts of North Africa. Its popularity has endured due to its beautiful meaning and rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Leiya over time

The chart below shows babies named Leiya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Leiya, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Leiya
01234201420182023

Decades

Leiya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Leiya 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 #4677 8 2
2010s #5691 3 1

Related

Names similar to Leiya

FAQ

Leiya: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Leiya was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Leiya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 4 babies registered as Leiya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Leiya?

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Arabic "layla" meaning "night".

How many people are called Leiya in the UK?

A total of 11 babies have been registered as Leiya across the 3 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.