UK boy's name
Loay
Of Arabic origin meaning "someone with beautiful eyes" or "beautiful eye".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Loay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Loay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2011 to 2021. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Loay. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Loay ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 4 boys were registered as Loay.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Loay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2020
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Loay mean?
The name Loay has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have been derived from the Arabic word "lawa'i," which means "banners" or "flags." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were standard-bearers or flag-bearers in ancient times.
During the medieval period, the name Loay gained prominence in various regions of the Middle East and North Africa. It was particularly popular among the Arabs and Muslims who inhabited these areas, and it was often associated with warriors, soldiers, and those who displayed bravery and valor on the battlefield.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Loay can be found in the writings of renowned Islamic scholars and historians. For instance, the 9th-century historian al-Baladhuri mentioned a certain Loay ibn Ghalib, who was a prominent figure during the early years of the Islamic conquest of Syria in the 7th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals bore the name Loay. One such person was Loay ibn Hammad al-Saffar (d. 923 CE), a military leader and the founder of the Saffarian dynasty in Iran. Another was Loay ibn Khalid (d. 688 CE), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a renowned warrior who participated in several significant battles during the early Islamic conquests.
In the realm of literature and poetry, the name Loay was also held in high esteem. One of the most famous poets to carry this name was Loay ibn al-Muzaffar al-Attar (d. 1287 CE), a renowned Arabic poet and writer from Damascus, whose works were widely celebrated and studied in the Islamic world.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Loay was Loay ibn Yahya al-Ghassani (d. 683 CE), a military commander and governor who played a crucial role in the Islamic conquest of North Africa during the 7th century. He was known for his strategic skills and leadership on the battlefield.
It is worth noting that while the name Loay has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, it has also been adopted and used in various other cultures and regions over the centuries, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural exchange and influences that have shaped the world's naming traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Loay over time
The chart below shows babies named Loay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Loay, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Loay by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Loay 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 | #4319 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4735 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Loay
- Luke 72,247
- Lewis 69,555
- Leo 63,249
- Liam 60,482
- Lucas 49,061
- Logan 40,771
- Louis 35,898
- Luca 30,323
- Louie 24,242
- Leon 22,308
- Levi 9,931
- Lee 7,861
FAQ
Loay: questions and answers
How popular is the name Loay in the UK right now?
In 2021, Loay was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Loay most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 4 babies registered as Loay in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Loay?
Of Arabic origin meaning "someone with beautiful eyes" or "beautiful eye".
How many people are called Loay in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Loay across the 5 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.