NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Naina

An Indian feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "eyes".

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.

Naina is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Naina popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1894, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 22 births.

This profile covers 351 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 68% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 353 living people in the UK are called Naina. 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

  • Naina ranked #1894 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 22 girls were registered as Naina.
  • Naina ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #577 in 2005.
  • About 353 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naina as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1894

2024

Births in 2024

15

Latest year

Peak year

2016

22 births

Estimated living

353

2026

Meaning

What does Naina mean?

The name Naina is derived from the Sanskrit language and has its origins in ancient Indian culture. It is believed to have emerged around the 5th century BCE during the Vedic period of Indian history.

Naina is a feminine name that means "eyes" or "beautiful eyes" in Sanskrit. The word "naina" is derived from the Sanskrit word "nayana," which refers to the eyes or the act of seeing. This connection to the eyes and beauty might have been a reflection of the importance placed on physical beauty in ancient Indian culture.

One of the earliest known references to the name Naina can be found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In the epic, Naina is mentioned as the name of a character, although the context and significance of this character are not well documented.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Naina. One of the earliest recorded examples is Naina Devi (1917-1994), an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. She was a member of the Indian National Congress and worked closely with prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Another famous Naina was Naina Bhonsle (1495-1557), a Indian ruler and warrior from the Bhonsle clan. She is remembered for her bravery and leadership during the conflicts between the Marathas and the Mughals in the 16th century.

In the realm of literature, Naina Sahu (1920-2018) was a prominent Indian writer and poet who wrote in the Chhattisgarhi language. Her works explored themes of rural life, women's experiences, and social issues. She received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Naina Kaur (born 1991) is a contemporary Indian actress and model who has appeared in several Punjabi films and music videos. She is known for her performances in movies like "Qismat" and "Chal Mera Putt 2."

Naina Devi (1917-2011) was an Indian classical singer and musician who specialized in the Hindustani classical music tradition. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Naina over time

The chart below shows babies named Naina registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Naina, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 22 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Naina
06111722199620102024

Decades

Naina by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naina 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 #2406 56 5
2010s #1988 146 10
2000s #1637 134 9
1990s #2718 15 3

Geography

Where Naina is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Naina. 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.

Naina ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #577 in 2005.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Naina in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#577 in 2005

1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered

Related

Names similar to Naina

FAQ

Naina: questions and answers

How popular is the name Naina in the UK right now?

In 2024, Naina was ranked #1894 for girls in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.

When was Naina most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 22 babies registered as Naina in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Naina?

An Indian feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "eyes".

How many people are called Naina in the UK?

A total of 351 babies have been registered as Naina across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.

Where is Naina most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Naina ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #577 in 2005. 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.