UK girl's name
Nuray
A feminine Turkish name meaning "heavenly light" or "divine light".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nuray is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nuray popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2005 to 2015. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Nuray. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nuray ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Nuray.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nuray as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Nuray mean?
The given name Nuray has its origins in the Turkish language and culture. It is believed to have emerged as a name during the Ottoman Empire era in the region of modern-day Turkey, sometime around the 15th or 16th century.
The word Nuray is derived from the combination of two Turkish words: "nur" meaning light, and "ay" meaning moon. Thus, the name Nuray can be translated to mean "light of the moon" or "moonlight." This poetic and celestial meaning has contributed to the name's enduring popularity in Turkey and among Turkish communities worldwide.
While the name Nuray does not appear to have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its component words "nur" and "ay" have been used in various literary works and poetry throughout the centuries, reflecting the cultural significance of light and the moon in Turkish culture.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nuray can be found in the Ottoman Empire's census records from the late 19th century, indicating its use as a given name for girls during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nuray, contributing to its recognition and popularity. Here are five examples:
1. Nuray Hafifoglu (1933-2021), a renowned Turkish actress and theater performer, known for her roles in numerous plays and films. 2. Nuray Mert (born 1962), a Turkish novelist and screenwriter, acclaimed for her works exploring themes of love, relationships, and societal issues. 3. Nuray Sayari (born 1941), a Turkish-American academic and expert on Turkish politics and foreign policy, serving as a professor at various universities. 4. Nuray Uslu (born 1988), a Turkish swimmer and Olympian, representing Turkey in multiple Olympic Games and holding national records. 5. Nuray Mehemet (born 1993), a Turkish singer and songwriter, known for blending traditional Turkish music with contemporary styles.
These individuals, spanning various fields such as arts, literature, academia, sports, and music, have contributed to the recognition and celebration of the name Nuray across different domains and generations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nuray over time
The chart below shows babies named Nuray registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nuray, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nuray by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nuray 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 | #5730 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3970 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Nuray
- 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
Nuray: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nuray in the UK right now?
In 2015, Nuray was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nuray most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Nuray in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nuray?
A feminine Turkish name meaning "heavenly light" or "divine light".
How many people are called Nuray in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Nuray across the 2 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.