UK boy's name
Narayan
An Indian masculine name meaning "supreme being" or "Lord Vishnu".
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.
Narayan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Narayan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 14 births.
This profile covers 169 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1996 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 36% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 168 living people in the UK are called Narayan. 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
- • Narayan ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 14 boys were registered as Narayan.
- • About 168 living people in the UK are estimated to have Narayan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2014
14 births
Estimated living
168
2026
Meaning
What does Narayan mean?
The name Narayan has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "nara," meaning human or man, and "ayana," meaning abode or resting place. The name Narayan can be translated to mean "the dwelling place of humanity" or "the abode of all beings."
In Hindu mythology and religion, Narayan is one of the principal names of the Supreme Being, Lord Vishnu, who is revered as the preserver and protector of the universe. The name is prominently mentioned in various Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, Puranas, and the Bhagavad Gita.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Narayan can be found in the Vishnu Purana, an ancient Sanskrit text believed to have been composed around the 4th or 5th century CE. In this text, Narayan is described as the supreme deity and the source of all creation.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Narayan. One of the most famous was Narayan Guru (1854-1928), a renowned social reformer and spiritual leader from the southern Indian state of Kerala. He played a significant role in promoting social equality and advocating for the rights of the underprivileged.
Another prominent figure was Narayan Datt Shastri (1882-1953), a renowned Sanskrit scholar and philosopher from India. He made significant contributions to the study and preservation of ancient Sanskrit texts and was instrumental in reviving the study of Indian philosophy and culture.
In the realm of literature, Narayan Sanyal (1916-2008) was a prominent Bengali writer and poet. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, India's highest literary honor, for his collection of poems titled "Kavitar Pratham Purash" in 1964.
Narayan Desai (1924-2015) was an Indian Gandhian activist and social worker who dedicated his life to promoting Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence and social justice. He received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
In the field of music, Narayan Khare (1917-1978) was a renowned Indian classical vocalist and exponent of the Khyal style of Hindustani classical music. He was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Narayan over time
The chart below shows babies named Narayan 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 Narayan, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Narayan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Narayan 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 | #2874 | 39 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2550 | 82 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2201 | 38 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2264 | 10 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Narayan
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Narayan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Narayan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Narayan was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Narayan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 14 babies registered as Narayan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Narayan?
An Indian masculine name meaning "supreme being" or "Lord Vishnu".
How many people are called Narayan in the UK?
A total of 169 babies have been registered as Narayan across the 22 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.