UK girl's name
Naiya
A modern feminine name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from Sanskrit.
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.
Naiya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Naiya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 21 births.
This profile covers 271 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 2001 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 270 living people in the UK are called Naiya. 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
- • Naiya ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 21 girls were registered as Naiya.
- • About 270 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naiya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2013
21 births
Estimated living
270
2026
Meaning
What does Naiya mean?
The name Naiya is of Sanskrit origin and can be traced back to ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "naya," which means "guide" or "leader." The name has been in use since the Vedic period, which dates back to around 1500 BCE.
Naiya was a popular name among the Kshatriya caste, which comprised the warriors and rulers of ancient India. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Naiya was the name of a prince who was known for his bravery and leadership skills. The name is also mentioned in the Puranas, which are ancient Hindu texts that describe the creation, preservation, and dissolution of the universe.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Naiya can be found in the Ashoka inscriptions, which date back to the 3rd century BCE. These inscriptions were written by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka and mention a person named Naiya who was a high-ranking official in his court.
Throughout history, there have been several notable people with the name Naiya. In the 7th century CE, Naiya was the name of a Buddhist monk who traveled to China and helped spread Buddhism in the region. Another famous Naiya was a Rajput warrior who fought against the Mughal Empire in the 16th century.
During the 19th century, Naiya was the name of a prominent Indian freedom fighter who participated in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company. In more recent times, Naiya Iqbal was a Pakistani politician who served as a member of the National Assembly from 2008 to 2013.
Other notable people with the name Naiya include Naiya Patel, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who has performed around the world, and Naiya Bhatt, an Indian actress who has appeared in several Bollywood films.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Naiya over time
The chart below shows babies named Naiya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Naiya, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naiya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naiya 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 | #2411 | 53 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1952 | 145 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2588 | 73 | 9 |
Related
Names similar to Naiya
- 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
Naiya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naiya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Naiya was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Naiya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 21 babies registered as Naiya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naiya?
A modern feminine name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from Sanskrit.
How many people are called Naiya in the UK?
A total of 271 babies have been registered as Naiya across the 24 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.