UK girl's name
Piya
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "beloved" or "dear one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Piya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Piya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 11 births.
This profile covers 73 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2001 to 2019. 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 73 living people in the UK are called Piya. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Piya ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 11 girls were registered as Piya.
- • About 73 living people in the UK are estimated to have Piya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
11 births
Estimated living
73
2026
Meaning
What does Piya mean?
The name Piya is derived from the Sanskrit language, which originated in ancient India around the 2nd millennium BCE. It is a feminine name that means "beloved" or "dear one." The name has its roots in the Sanskrit word "priya," which also means "beloved" or "dear."
In Hindu mythology, Piya is one of the names of the goddess Lakshmi, who is the consort of Lord Vishnu and the deity of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. The name is often associated with love, beauty, and grace.
The earliest recorded use of the name Piya can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and Puranas. It was a popular name among Hindu families, particularly in northern and central India.
One of the earliest known references to the name Piya is found in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest Hindu scriptures dating back to around 1500 BCE. In the text, there is a mention of a woman named Piya who was the wife of a sage.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Piya. One of the most famous was Piya Tan, a renowned Buddhist scholar and monk who lived in the 20th century (1923-2005). He was born in Malaysia and made significant contributions to the study and understanding of Early Buddhist Texts.
Another well-known figure with the name Piya was Piya Pal, an Indian freedom fighter who participated in the Indian Independence Movement against British colonial rule in the early 20th century (1890-1942).
In the field of literature, Piya Mukherjee was a prominent Indian writer and poet who gained recognition for her works in Bengali literature. She was born in 1910 and passed away in 1998.
In the world of music, Piya Malik is a renowned Indian classical vocalist and composer who has performed and recorded extensively. She was born in 1957 and continues to be an influential figure in the world of Hindustani classical music.
Lastly, Piya Behrupiya was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer who specialized in the Kathak and Bharatanatyam dance forms. She was born in 1927 and passed away in 2022, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of Indian classical dance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Piya over time
The chart below shows babies named Piya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Piya, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Piya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Piya 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 | #4589 | 41 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3638 | 32 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Piya
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Piya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Piya in the UK right now?
In 2019, Piya was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Piya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 11 babies registered as Piya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Piya?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "beloved" or "dear one".
How many people are called Piya in the UK?
A total of 73 babies have been registered as Piya across the 15 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.