NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nay

One of many spellings for the feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "delightful.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nay is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2022 to 2022. 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.

Nay is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Nay. 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 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nay ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 4 girls were registered as Nay.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4645

2022

Births in 2022

4

Latest year

Peak year

2022

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Nay mean?

The name Nay originates from the Tamil language, which is spoken predominantly in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. Its roots can be traced back to ancient Tamil literature and culture, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

In Tamil, the word "nay" means "truth" or "righteousness." It is believed that the name Nay was given to children with the hope that they would grow up to embody these virtues and live a life of honesty and integrity. The name's association with truth and righteousness is reflected in various Tamil proverbs and sayings that emphasize the importance of these values.

Historically, the name Nay has been mentioned in several ancient Tamil texts, including the Sangam literature, which is a collection of poems and literature dating back to the early centuries of the common era. These texts often praised individuals with the name Nay for their virtuous character and upright conduct.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nay can be found in the Purananuru, a classical Tamil poetic work from the 2nd century BCE. The work includes a poem dedicated to a king named Nay Celian, who was renowned for his bravery and just rule.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nay. One such person was Nay Pal (1052-1109 CE), a powerful ruler of the Nanda Empire in ancient India. He was known for his military conquests and his patronage of the arts and literature.

Another famous individual with the name Nay was Nayar Rani Velu Nachiyar (1730-1796 CE), a prominent queen and ruler of the Indian kingdom of Sivaganga. She is celebrated for her courage and leadership in the fight against the British East India Company during the late 18th century.

In the field of literature, Nay Pyi Taw (1952-2021) was a renowned Burmese poet and writer who was widely acclaimed for his contribution to modern Myanmar literature. His works often explored themes of human suffering, love, and social injustice.

Nay Myo Thwe (1937-2012) was a prominent Burmese artist and painter who was renowned for his unique style and depictions of traditional Burmese life and culture. His works are displayed in various museums and galleries across Myanmar.

Lastly, Nay Win Maung (1962-2008) was a Burmese activist and political dissident who fought for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. He spent several years in prison for his activism and was highly regarded for his unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom and justice.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Nay by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nay 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 #4645 4 1

Related

Names similar to Nay

FAQ

Nay: questions and answers

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

In 2022, Nay was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Nay most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 4 babies registered as Nay in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nay?

One of many spellings for the feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "delightful.".

How many people are called Nay in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Nay across the 1 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.