UK boy's name
Niyaz
A masculine Arabic name meaning desire, wish or intention.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Niyaz is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Niyaz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4810, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 10 births.
This profile covers 94 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 1997 to 2016. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 93 living people in the UK are called Niyaz. 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 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Niyaz ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 10 boys were registered as Niyaz.
- • About 93 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niyaz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4810
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
10 births
Estimated living
93
2026
Meaning
What does Niyaz mean?
The name Niyaz has its origins in the Persian and Arabic languages. It is derived from the Arabic root word "niyaz," which means "desire" or "wish." The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 7th to 13th centuries, when it was commonly used in Persian and Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East and Central Asia.
Niyaz was a popular name among Muslims, and it is mentioned in several Islamic texts and historical records. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet Rumi, who lived in the 13th century. Rumi often used the name Niyaz in his poetry as a metaphor for spiritual longing and devotion.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Niyaz. One of the most famous was Niyaz al-Din Nishapuri (1201-1289), a Persian Sufi mystic and poet who played a significant role in the spread of Sufism in the region. Another notable Niyaz was Niyaz Quli Afshar (1688-1759), a Persian military leader and ruler who served as the Nader Shah of Iran.
In the Indian subcontinent, the name Niyaz was also prevalent, particularly among Muslims. One of the most renowned figures with this name was Niyaz Fatehpuri (1884-1966), an Indian Muslim scholar and leader who played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement and the formation of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind organization.
Another notable individual with the name Niyaz was Niyaz Qayum (1912-1975), an Afghan writer and poet who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern Afghan literature. His works, which often explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, have had a lasting impact on Afghan culture.
Niyaz has also been used as a name in other parts of the world, though its origins can be traced back to the Persian and Arabic cultures. For instance, Niyaz Ahmed (1836-1912) was a prominent Indian Muslim reformer and educator who played a significant role in the establishment of the Aligarh Muslim University in India.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Niyaz over time
The chart below shows babies named Niyaz registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Niyaz, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Niyaz by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niyaz 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4235 | 19 | 5 |
| 2000s | #2574 | 59 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2146 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Niyaz
- 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
Niyaz: questions and answers
How popular is the name Niyaz in the UK right now?
In 2016, Niyaz was ranked #4810 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Niyaz most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 10 babies registered as Niyaz in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Niyaz?
A masculine Arabic name meaning desire, wish or intention.
How many people are called Niyaz in the UK?
A total of 94 babies have been registered as Niyaz across the 18 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.