UK girl's name
Miaya
A feminine name derived from the Japanese elements "mi" (beauty) and "aya" (colorful design).
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Miaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Miaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 5 births.
This profile covers 22 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2000 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 25 living people in the UK are called Miaya. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Miaya ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 5 girls were registered as Miaya.
- • Miaya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #810 in 2011.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Miaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
5 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Miaya mean?
The name Miaya is believed to have its origins in the Yoruba language, which is spoken primarily in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The name is thought to be derived from the Yoruba word "omi," meaning "water," and "aya," meaning "beauty" or "elegance."
In Yoruba culture, water is considered a powerful and sacred element, often associated with purity, fertility, and life itself. The combination of "omi" and "aya" suggests a name that symbolizes the beauty and grace found in the natural world, specifically in the element of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Miaya can be found in the writings of the influential Yoruba author and playwright, Amos Tutuola, who lived from 1920 to 1997. In his works, he often drew inspiration from Yoruba folklore and mythology, and it is possible that the name Miaya appeared as a character in one of his stories.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Miaya. One such person was Miaya Gekkadan, a Japanese painter and calligrapher who lived in the early 18th century. Her works were highly regarded for their delicate brushwork and skillful depictions of nature.
Another notable Miaya was Miaya Wilkins, an American civil rights activist and educator who lived from 1923 to 2008. She played a crucial role in desegregating public schools in the United States and was a tireless advocate for equal educational opportunities.
In the world of sports, Miaya Riga was a Latvian basketball player who competed in the 1990s and early 2000s. She represented her country in several international tournaments and was known for her tenacity and skill on the court.
Miaya Kwaten was a renowned Australian singer and songwriter of Aboriginal descent, who lived from 1958 to 2003. Her music celebrated her indigenous heritage and played a significant role in raising awareness about the struggles and resilience of Aboriginal communities.
Lastly, Miaya Sakamoto was a Japanese voice actress and singer who gained popularity for her work in various anime series and video games. She was born in 1976 and is particularly known for her role as Hitomi Kanzaki in the anime series "The Vision of Escaflowne."
While the name Miaya may have originated from the Yoruba language, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition in various parts of the world, reflecting the diverse and fascinating histories that names can embody.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Miaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Miaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Miaya, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Miaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Miaya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4588 | 13 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3015 | 9 | 2 |
Geography
Where Miaya is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Miaya. 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.
Miaya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #810 in 2011.
Across the UK
Miaya in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#810 in 2011
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Miaya
- 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
Miaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Miaya in the UK right now?
In 2018, Miaya was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Miaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 5 babies registered as Miaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Miaya?
A feminine name derived from the Japanese elements "mi" (beauty) and "aya" (colorful design).
How many people are called Miaya in the UK?
A total of 22 babies have been registered as Miaya across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Miaya most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Miaya ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #810 in 2011. 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.