UK girl's name
Nayana
Feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "having beautiful eyes".
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.
Nayana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nayana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 13 births.
This profile covers 129 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1997 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 128 living people in the UK are called Nayana. 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
- • Nayana ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 13 girls were registered as Nayana.
- • About 128 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nayana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2004
13 births
Estimated living
128
2026
Meaning
What does Nayana mean?
Nayana is a name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word "nayan" which means "eye" or "vision" in the ancient Indian language. This name is primarily found in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and has been in use for several centuries.
The name Nayana is believed to have its roots in the Vedic period, dating back to the second millennium BCE. It is mentioned in several ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, including the Puranas and the Upanishads, where it is often associated with beauty, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nayana can be found in the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic from the 4th century BCE. In this text, Nayana is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph who was known for her beauty and grace.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Nayana. One of the most famous was Nayana Jhaveri (1928-2018), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who made significant contributions to the art form of Kathak dance.
Another well-known figure was Nayana Goradia (1963-), an Indian actress and television personality who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s for her roles in popular Hindi films and television shows.
In the realm of literature, Nayana Raghupathy (1955-) is a renowned Indian poet and writer who has authored several collections of poetry and short stories, exploring themes of identity, feminism, and social issues.
In the field of science, Nayana Patel (1958-) is a distinguished Indian-American biochemist and researcher who has made significant contributions to the study of cancer and cell biology.
Nayana Kanoongo (1963-) is a notable Indian classical singer and exponent of the Khayal style of Hindustani classical music, known for her melodious voice and mastery of the art form.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Nayana, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nayana over time
The chart below shows babies named Nayana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Nayana, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nayana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nayana 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 | #4030 | 17 | 3 |
| 2010s | #5191 | 25 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2320 | 80 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3525 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nayana
- 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
Nayana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nayana in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nayana was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Nayana most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 13 babies registered as Nayana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nayana?
Feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "having beautiful eyes".
How many people are called Nayana in the UK?
A total of 129 babies have been registered as Nayana across the 21 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.