UK girl's name
Naira
A feminine name of Russian origin meaning "supreme ruler".
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.
Naira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Naira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1198, with 28 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 35 births.
This profile covers 353 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 2002 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 351 living people in the UK are called Naira. 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
- • Naira ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 28 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 35 girls were registered as Naira.
- • About 351 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1198
2024
Births in 2024
28
Latest year
Peak year
2019
35 births
Estimated living
351
2026
Meaning
What does Naira mean?
The name Naira has its origins in the Armenian language, and it is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in the region of historic Armenia. The name is derived from the Armenian word "nairi," which means "river valley" or "source of the river." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near rivers or in fertile river valleys.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naira can be found in the medieval Armenian epic poem "Daredevils of Sassoun," which dates back to the 8th or 9th century. In this literary work, Naira is mentioned as the name of a female character, indicating that the name has been in use for several centuries.
Throughout history, there have been notable individuals who bore the name Naira. One of the most famous was Naira Stepanyan, an Armenian actress who lived from 1913 to 1996. She was renowned for her performances in both theater and film, and she is considered a pioneering figure in Armenian cinema.
Another notable figure was Naira Arshakyan, an Armenian writer and poet who lived from 1921 to 1985. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience, and she is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in 20th-century Armenian literature.
In the field of music, Naira Asatrian was a renowned Armenian soprano who lived from 1927 to 2012. She performed in operas and concerts around the world, and her powerful voice and captivating stage presence earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards.
Naira Gevorgyan was an Armenian chess player who lived from 1968 to 2018. She was a Woman Grandmaster and a multiple-time Armenian Chess Champion, known for her strategic brilliance and tenacity on the chessboard.
Lastly, Naira Martirosyan was an Armenian artist and sculptor who lived from 1928 to 2010. Her works, which often depicted themes of motherhood and family, are celebrated for their emotional depth and technical mastery, and she is regarded as one of the most influential sculptors of her generation in Armenia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Naira over time
The chart below shows babies named Naira registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 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 Naira, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 28 births in 2024, compared with 35 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naira by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naira 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 | #1096 | 154 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2523 | 167 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3067 | 32 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Naira
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Naira: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naira in the UK right now?
In 2024, Naira was ranked #1198 for girls in England and Wales, with 28 births registered.
When was Naira most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 35 babies registered as Naira in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naira?
A feminine name of Russian origin meaning "supreme ruler".
How many people are called Naira in the UK?
A total of 353 babies have been registered as Naira across the 20 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.