UK girl's name
Menaye
A feminine name of Amharic origin meaning "beloved" or "lovable".
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.
Menaye is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Menaye 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 2018, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2018 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.
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 7 living people in the UK are called Menaye. 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
- • Menaye ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 4 girls were registered as Menaye.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Menaye 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
2018
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Menaye mean?
The name Menaye is believed to have its origins in the Amharic language, which is a Semitic language spoken primarily in Ethiopia. It is derived from the Amharic word "menaye," which means "luck" or "fortune." The name is thought to have been in use since ancient times in the region that is now modern-day Ethiopia.
Menaye is a name that has been widely used in the Ethiopian cultural and historical context. It has been mentioned in various ancient texts and religious scriptures from the region, particularly those related to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has been a dominant religious institution in Ethiopia for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Menaye dates back to the 14th century, when it was borne by Menaye Iyasus, a prominent Ethiopian nobleman and military leader. He played a significant role in defending the Ethiopian Empire against the invasion of the Muslim forces of the Adal Sultanate in the 16th century.
Another notable figure with the name Menaye was Menaye Selassie, an Ethiopian nobleman who lived in the late 18th century. He held a high-ranking position in the court of Emperor Tekle Giyorgis I and was known for his contributions to the cultural and literary traditions of the time.
In the 19th century, Menaye Haile Mariam was a prominent Ethiopian military leader who fought against the invading forces of the Italians during the First Italo-Ethiopian War in 1895-1896. His bravery and leadership skills were widely acclaimed, and he is remembered as a national hero in Ethiopia.
Moving forward in time, Menaye Gebeyehu was an Ethiopian scholar and writer who lived in the early 20th century. He was known for his works on Ethiopian history, culture, and literature, and his contributions helped preserve and promote the rich heritage of his country.
Lastly, Menaye Wolde-Michael was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia from 1971 to 1977. He played a significant role in shaping the country's international relations during a critical period in its history.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Menaye throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted cultural significance and the diverse roles and contributions of those who have carried this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Menaye over time
The chart below shows babies named Menaye registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 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 Menaye, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Menaye by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Menaye 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 | #5891 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4684 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Menaye
- 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
Menaye: questions and answers
How popular is the name Menaye in the UK right now?
In 2024, Menaye was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Menaye most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 4 babies registered as Menaye in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Menaye?
A feminine name of Amharic origin meaning "beloved" or "lovable".
How many people are called Menaye in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Menaye across the 2 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.