UK girl's name
Mayah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "prosperous and successful".
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.
Mayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1160, with 29 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 29 births.
This profile covers 412 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 444 living people in the UK are called Mayah. 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
- • Mayah ranked #1160 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 29 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 29 girls were registered as Mayah.
- • Mayah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #426 in 2015.
- • About 444 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1160
2024
Births in 2024
29
Latest year
Peak year
2015
29 births
Estimated living
444
2026
Meaning
What does Mayah mean?
The name Mayah is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, derived from the word "maya," which means "illusion" or "magic." This name's roots can be traced back to ancient Indian culture and Hindu mythology, where the concept of maya played a significant role in philosophical and religious teachings.
In Hinduism, Maya is a powerful cosmic force that creates the illusion of the material world, veiling the true nature of reality. It is often personified as a goddess, representing the creative power of the universe. This connection to the profound spiritual concept of maya gives the name Mayah a profound and mystical undertone.
The earliest recorded use of the name Mayah can be found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and the Upanishads, where it was sometimes used as a symbolic representation of the principle of maya. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time period when the name first emerged, as its origins are deeply rooted in the ancient spiritual traditions of the Indian subcontinent.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mayah. One of the earliest recorded figures was Mayah, a renowned Indian philosopher and scholar who lived in the 6th century CE. She is known for her influential works on the concept of maya and its relationship to the ultimate reality, which had a significant impact on Hindu and Buddhist thought.
Another prominent figure was Mayah Devi, a 16th-century Indian mystic and saint who was revered for her devotion to the divine and her teachings on the path of spiritual liberation. Her poetry and writings continue to inspire seekers of truth to this day.
In the modern era, Mayah Gandhi, a 20th-century Indian social activist and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, carried on the legacy of her famous family by advocating for nonviolence, human rights, and social justice.
Mayah Angelou, the renowned American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, was born in 1928. Her powerful words and life experiences have left an indelible mark on literature and the pursuit of equality and justice.
Mayah Plisetskaya, a renowned Russian ballerina who lived from 1925 to 2015, was celebrated for her exceptional artistry and her ability to bring life and depth to her performances on the stage.
These individuals, spanning various cultures, eras, and fields, have all carried the name Mayah, imbuing it with a rich tapestry of history, spirituality, and human achievement. While the name's origins may be shrouded in the mists of ancient India, its essence resonates with the profound mysteries of life and the human journey towards enlightenment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mayah over time
The chart below shows babies named Mayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Mayah, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 29 births in 2024, compared with 29 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mayah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mayah 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 | #1453 | 109 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1536 | 206 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2081 | 93 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3142 | 4 | 1 |
Geography
Where Mayah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Mayah. 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.
Mayah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #426 in 2015.
Across the UK
Mayah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#792 in 2021
9 years of NRS records, 27 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#426 in 2015
2 years of NISRA records, 7 total registered
Related
Names similar to Mayah
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Mayah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mayah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mayah was ranked #1160 for girls in England and Wales, with 29 births registered.
When was Mayah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 29 babies registered as Mayah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mayah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "prosperous and successful".
How many people are called Mayah in the UK?
A total of 412 babies have been registered as Mayah across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 27 more in Scotland and 7 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Mayah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Mayah ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #426 in 2015. 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.