UK boy's name
Luay
A masculine Arabic name meaning "shelter" or "refuge".
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.
Luay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Luay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1758, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 14 births.
This profile covers 120 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2003 to 2024. 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.
Luay is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 119 living people in the UK are called Luay. 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
- • Luay ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 14 boys were registered as Luay.
- • About 119 living people in the UK are estimated to have Luay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1758
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
2024
14 births
Estimated living
119
2026
Meaning
What does Luay mean?
The name Luay has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic root word "l-w-y," which means "to twist" or "to bend." The name is believed to have emerged in the Middle Eastern region during the medieval period, around the 7th or 8th century.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Luay can be found in Arabic literature and poetry from the Abbasid Caliphate era (750-1258 CE). It was during this time that the name gained popularity among Arab scholars, poets, and intellectuals. However, the exact origins of the name and its precise meaning are still subject to debate among linguists and historians.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Luay. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Luay ibn Ghalib, a 7th-century Arab poet and warrior from the Quraysh tribe. He was known for his bravery and eloquence in battle, and his poems are still studied and recited today.
Another prominent figure with the name Luay was Luay ibn Musa al-Yahsubi, a 9th-century Islamic scholar and jurist from Basra, Iraq. He was renowned for his expertise in Islamic law and jurisprudence, and his teachings and writings had a significant impact on the development of Islamic legal thought.
In the 11th century, Luay ibn Nasr al-Samarqandi was a celebrated mathematician and astronomer from Samarkand, present-day Uzbekistan. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and astrology, and his works were widely studied and referenced by scholars throughout the Islamic world.
During the 13th century, Luay ibn Ibrahim al-Baghdadi was a prominent Arabic calligrapher and artist from Baghdad. His intricate and beautiful calligraphic works adorned numerous mosques, palaces, and manuscripts, and he is considered one of the greatest calligraphers in Islamic history.
In more recent times, Luay Bahry was a renowned Syrian artist and painter, born in 1936. He was known for his unique style that blended traditional Arabic calligraphy with modern abstract elements. His works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he is regarded as one of the most influential Arab artists of the 20th century.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Luay throughout history. While the name may have evolved over time and across different cultures, its Arabic origins and rich heritage continue to be celebrated and appreciated.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Luay over time
The chart below shows babies named Luay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 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 Luay, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Luay by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Luay 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 | #2274 | 53 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3574 | 52 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3679 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Luay
- 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
Luay: questions and answers
How popular is the name Luay in the UK right now?
In 2024, Luay was ranked #1758 for boys in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Luay most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 14 babies registered as Luay in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Luay?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "shelter" or "refuge".
How many people are called Luay in the UK?
A total of 120 babies have been registered as Luay across the 18 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.