UK girl's name
Nayab
A feminine Arabic name meaning rare, scarce, or exclusive.
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.
Nayab is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nayab popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 10 births.
This profile covers 131 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 130 living people in the UK are called Nayab. 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
- • Nayab ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 10 girls were registered as Nayab.
- • About 130 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nayab as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2005
10 births
Estimated living
130
2026
Meaning
What does Nayab mean?
The name Nayab is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "nayib," which means "deputy" or "representative." It has been in use since ancient times in the Arab world and the broader Islamic regions.
In the early centuries of Islam, the term "nayib" was often used to refer to a person who was appointed as a representative or deputy of a higher authority, such as a ruler or a religious leader. The name Nayab may have been given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be trusted representatives or leaders in their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nayab can be found in the writings of medieval Islamic scholars and historians. For example, Nayab ibn Salam, a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad, is mentioned in various historical accounts from the 7th century CE.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nayab. One famous example is Nayab Khan Suri, a powerful military leader and governor who lived in the 16th century during the Mughal Empire in present-day India. He played a significant role in the expansion of the Mughal territories and was known for his strategic military campaigns.
Another historical figure with the name Nayab is Nayab Khan Baloch, a influential tribal leader from Balochistan in the 18th century. He led a revolt against the Persian Empire and played a crucial role in the formation of the Baloch confederacy.
In the realm of literature, Nayab Jafri was a renowned Urdu poet who lived in the 19th century. He was known for his powerful and emotionally charged poetry, and his works are still widely studied and celebrated in the Urdu literary tradition.
Nayab Bukhari was a prominent Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic from the 19th century who hailed from the Indian subcontinent. He was highly respected for his profound knowledge of Islamic theology and his contributions to the spiritual teachings of Sufism.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who have borne the name Nayab, but there are undoubtedly many more throughout various regions and time periods where the name has been used.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nayab over time
The chart below shows babies named Nayab 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 Nayab, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nayab by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nayab 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 | #4261 | 14 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4153 | 42 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2747 | 57 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2426 | 18 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Nayab
- 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
Nayab: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nayab in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nayab was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Nayab most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 10 babies registered as Nayab in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nayab?
A feminine Arabic name meaning rare, scarce, or exclusive.
How many people are called Nayab in the UK?
A total of 131 babies have been registered as Nayab 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.