NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Raiyah

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "fragrant" or "successful".

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.

Raiyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Raiyah 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 2021, with 7 births.

This profile covers 48 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2012 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 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 48 living people in the UK are called Raiyah. 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

  • Raiyah ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 7 girls were registered as Raiyah.
  • About 48 living people in the UK are estimated to have Raiyah 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

2021

7 births

Estimated living

48

2026

Meaning

What does Raiyah mean?

The name Raiyah is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word "Raiya," which means "flag" or "banner." This name has its roots in the ancient Islamic culture and has been used for centuries.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Raiyah can be found in historical texts from the 7th century AD, during the early days of the Islamic Caliphate. It was a name given to women who were considered symbols of strength, courage, and leadership, much like a flag symbolizes a nation's identity and pride.

In the 9th century, a famous poet and scholar named Raiyah bint al-Hasan al-Qaramani lived in present-day Tunisia. She was renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature and her expertise in various fields, including poetry, grammar, and Islamic jurisprudence.

During the 12th century, a prominent Sufi mystic and scholar named Raiyah al-Baghdadi gained recognition for her spiritual teachings and her deep knowledge of Islamic mysticism. She was born in Baghdad and traveled extensively, spreading her teachings throughout the Islamic world.

In the 14th century, a woman named Raiyah bint Ahmad al-Jazari was a celebrated mathematician and engineer from present-day Turkey. She is credited with designing and constructing several groundbreaking water clocks and mechanical devices, which were considered innovative for her time.

Another notable figure with the name Raiyah was a 16th-century Moroccan princess named Raiyah al-Alawiyah. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the construction of several mosques and madrasas (Islamic schools) throughout the country.

These are just a few examples of the historical figures who have borne the name Raiyah, each contributing to various fields and leaving a lasting impact on their respective societies and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Raiyah over time

The chart below shows babies named Raiyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Raiyah, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Raiyah
02457201220182024

Decades

Raiyah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Raiyah 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 #3634 30 5
2010s #5219 18 5

Related

Names similar to Raiyah

FAQ

Raiyah: questions and answers

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

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

When was Raiyah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 7 babies registered as Raiyah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Raiyah?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "fragrant" or "successful".

How many people are called Raiyah in the UK?

A total of 48 babies have been registered as Raiyah across the 10 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.