UK boy's name
Qays
An Arabic masculine name derived from the root word "qaysa" meaning flourishing or prosperous.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Qays is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Qays popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 8 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1998 to 2023. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 63 living people in the UK are called Qays. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Qays ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 8 boys were registered as Qays.
- • About 63 living people in the UK are estimated to have Qays as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4107
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2001
8 births
Estimated living
63
2026
Meaning
What does Qays mean?
The given name Qays has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to pre-Islamic Arabia. The name is derived from the Arabic word "qays," which means a type of bow used for hunting or warfare. This association with archery and weaponry suggests a history of strength and valor.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Qays can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was often used as a masculine name. In particular, the name appears in the famous pre-Islamic Arabic love story of Qays and Layla, which tells the tragic tale of a young man named Qays who was driven mad by his unrequited love for a woman named Layla.
Throughout Islamic history, the name Qays has been borne by several notable figures. One of the most famous was Qays ibn al-Mulawwah (570-688 CE), a renowned Arab poet and warrior who lived during the Umayyad Caliphate. Another notable bearer of the name was Qays ibn Sa'd (603-682 CE), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a revered military leader during the early Islamic conquests.
During the medieval period, the name Qays was also associated with various Sufi mystics and philosophers. One such figure was Qays al-Razi (865-925 CE), a renowned Persian mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and geometry.
In more recent history, the name Qays has been carried by several prominent figures from the Arab world. One example is Qays al-Khazali (born 1974), an Iraqi Shia cleric and political leader who played a significant role in the Iraqi insurgency against the United States occupation in the early 2000s.
Another notable bearer of the name was Qays Akram Omar (1961-2022), a prominent Yemeni academic and human rights activist who advocated for democracy and social justice in his country. He was tragically assassinated in 2022, sparking widespread condemnation and protests.
While the name Qays has deep historical roots and associations with strength, valor, and intellectual pursuits, it has maintained its enduring popularity across the Arab world, serving as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Qays over time
The chart below shows babies named Qays registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Qays, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Qays by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Qays 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 | #4107 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3881 | 17 | 4 |
| 2000s | #3115 | 35 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2499 | 8 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Qays
- Quinn 2,941
- Qasim 1,585
- Quentin 481
- Quinton 375
- Quincy 334
- Qais 331
- Quinlan 247
- Qaasim 119
- Quin 105
- Quade 94
- Quintin 88
- Quinten 81
FAQ
Qays: questions and answers
How popular is the name Qays in the UK right now?
In 2023, Qays was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Qays most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 8 babies registered as Qays in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Qays?
An Arabic masculine name derived from the root word "qaysa" meaning flourishing or prosperous.
How many people are called Qays in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Qays 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.