NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Neda

A Persian feminine name meaning "voice" or "calling".

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.

Neda is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Neda popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 15 births.

This profile covers 191 England and Wales registrations across 27 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 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 190 living people in the UK are called Neda. 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

  • Neda ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 15 girls were registered as Neda.
  • About 190 living people in the UK are estimated to have Neda as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3695

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2011

15 births

Estimated living

190

2026

Meaning

What does Neda mean?

The name Neda has its origins in the Persian language and is believed to have derived from the ancient Persian word "naida," which means "voice" or "call." The name can be traced back to the ancient Persian civilization that flourished in the region now known as Iran, dating back to around the 6th century BCE.

In ancient Persian literature and poetry, the name Neda is often associated with the concept of beauty, grace, and elegance. It is mentioned in several works of classical Persian literature, such as the Shahnameh, the epic poem written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Neda can be found in the writings of the Persian philosopher and poet Rumi, who lived during the 13th century. In his poetic works, Rumi often referred to Neda as a symbol of divine love and spiritual awakening.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Neda. One of the most famous was Neda Agha-Soltan (1982-2009), an Iranian philosophy student who was tragically killed during the post-election protests in Iran in 2009. Her death, captured on video, became a powerful symbol of the struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran.

Another notable figure was Neda Anjoman (1918-2005), an Iranian poet and writer who was known for her works that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Her poetry collections, such as "The Goddess of Youth," are widely celebrated in the Persian literary canon.

In the field of arts and culture, Neda Arazi (1936-2020) was a renowned Iranian singer and actress who gained popularity for her performances in Persian classical music and her roles in several Iranian films during the 1960s and 1970s.

Neda Hassanpour (born 1991) is a contemporary Iranian chess player who has achieved significant success in international tournaments, becoming a Woman Grandmaster in 2016 and representing Iran in numerous chess Olympiads.

Lastly, Neda Agha-Soltan (1982-2009) was an Iranian student and philosopher whose tragic death during the 2009 Iranian election protests sparked international outrage and became a symbol of the fight for democracy and human rights in Iran.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Neda over time

The chart below shows babies named Neda 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 Neda, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Neda
0481115199620102024

Decades

Neda by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Neda 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 #3871 27 5
2010s #2645 98 10
2000s #3275 53 9
1990s #3092 13 3

Related

Names similar to Neda

FAQ

Neda: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Neda was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Neda most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 15 babies registered as Neda in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Neda?

A Persian feminine name meaning "voice" or "calling".

How many people are called Neda in the UK?

A total of 191 babies have been registered as Neda across the 27 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.