NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Rayan

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "prosperous" or "contented".

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.

Rayan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Rayan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #188, with 267 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 326 births.

This profile covers 4,750 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 82% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 4,883 living people in the UK are called Rayan. 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

  • Rayan ranked #188 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 267 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 326 boys were registered as Rayan.
  • Rayan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #278 in 2024.
  • About 4,883 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rayan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 89.1% of Rayan registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#188

2024

Births in 2024

267

Latest year

Peak year

2016

326 births

Estimated living

4,883

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Rayan

In England and Wales birth records, Rayan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 89.1% of registrations are for boys and 10.9% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

89% boys
Boys4,750 (89.1%)Girls584 (10.9%)

Rayan registered for boys

  • Ranked #188 in 2024
  • 267 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2016 (326 births)

Rayan registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,894 in 2024
  • 15 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2010 (52 births)

Meaning

What does Rayan mean?

The name Rayan is derived from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Middle East. It is believed to have originated during the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th centuries. The name is a variation of the Arabic word "rayyan," which means "fresh water" or "paradise."

Rayan was a relatively uncommon name in ancient times, but it gained popularity during the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the works of the renowned Persian poet Rumi (1207-1273). Rumi's poetry often featured symbolic references to water and paradise, making the name Rayan a fitting choice for characters in his writings.

In the 14th century, a famous Islamic scholar and philosopher from Persia, known as Rayan al-Din al-Ghazali (1284-1349), gained widespread recognition for his contributions to Islamic theology and philosophy. His works, particularly his treatise on the "Revival of the Religious Sciences," had a profound impact on Islamic thought and scholarship.

During the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over parts of the Middle East and North Africa from the 14th to the early 20th century, the name Rayan was occasionally used by members of the ruling elite. One notable example is Rayan Pasha (1523-1582), a prominent Ottoman statesman and military leader who served as the Grand Vizier, the highest-ranking political advisor to the Sultan.

In more recent history, Rayan Cherki (born 2003) is a French professional footballer of Algerian descent who plays as a forward for Olympique Lyonnais. He is considered one of the most promising young talents in European football and has represented France at various youth levels.

Another notable figure with the name Rayan is Rayan Rayyan (born 1985), a Jordanian-American actor and comedian. He has appeared in various television shows and films, including the critically acclaimed series "Ramy," where he played the role of Ahmed.

While the name Rayan has its origins in the Middle East, it has gained popularity in various parts of the world due to cultural exchange and migration. However, its roots and historical significance remain deeply connected to the rich cultural heritage of the Arabic-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Rayan over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Rayan in England and Wales, from 1996 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 Rayan, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 267 births in 2024, compared with 326 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
087174261348199620102024

Decades

Rayan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rayan 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 #194 1,326 5
2010s #212 2,561 10
2000s #549 829 10
1990s #1693 34 4

Geography

Where Rayan is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Rayan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Rayan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #278 in 2024.

Scotland
14
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Rayan in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#278 in 2024

19 years of NRS records, 150 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#352 in 2022

3 years of NISRA records, 12 total registered

Related

Names similar to Rayan

FAQ

Rayan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Rayan was ranked #188 for boys in England and Wales, with 267 births registered.

When was Rayan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 326 babies registered as Rayan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Rayan?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "prosperous" or "contented".

How many people are called Rayan in the UK?

A total of 4,750 babies have been registered as Rayan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 150 more in Scotland and 12 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Rayan most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Rayan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #278 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.