NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Reya

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".

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.

Reya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Reya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #404, with 106 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 123 births.

This profile covers 934 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 2000 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 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 978 living people in the UK are called Reya. 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

  • Reya ranked #404 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 106 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 123 girls were registered as Reya.
  • Reya ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #354 in 2022.
  • About 978 living people in the UK are estimated to have Reya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#404

2024

Births in 2024

106

Latest year

Peak year

2023

123 births

Estimated living

978

2026

Meaning

What does Reya mean?

The name Reya is a variant of the Sanskrit name Radhika, which means "prosperous" or "successful." It is derived from the Sanskrit word "radh," meaning "to succeed" or "to accomplish." The name Radhika has its roots in Hindu mythology, where it is associated with the consort of Lord Krishna.

In ancient Hindu texts, Radha is revered as the embodiment of divine love and devotion. Her unwavering devotion to Krishna is celebrated in various religious scriptures and literary works, such as the Bhagavata Purana and the Gita Govinda. Radha's name symbolizes the pure and selfless love that transcends the material world.

The earliest recorded use of the name Reya can be traced back to the 16th century in India. One of the earliest known historical figures with this name was Reya Chowdhury, a prominent Bengali poet and philosopher who lived during the 16th century. Her literary works and philosophical teachings had a significant impact on Bengali culture and literature.

Another notable figure with the name Reya was Reya Devi, a 17th-century Indian warrior queen who ruled the princely state of Gohad in present-day Madhya Pradesh. She is renowned for her military prowess and her efforts to defend her kingdom against invading forces.

In the 19th century, Reya Krishnabai was a prominent social reformer and educator in India. She established several schools for girls and worked tirelessly to promote women's education and empowerment.

Moving into the 20th century, Reya Chaudhuri was an acclaimed Indian dancer and choreographer who played a pivotal role in reviving and popularizing Indian classical dance forms, particularly Manipuri dance.

In more recent times, Reya Sunshine, born in 1982, is a renowned American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has gained recognition for her unique blend of folk, rock, and world music, and her socially conscious lyrics.

While the name Reya has its origins in Sanskrit and Hindu mythology, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained popularity across various regions and communities. The name's association with prosperity, success, and divine love has contributed to its enduring appeal throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Reya over time

The chart below shows babies named Reya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 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 Reya, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 106 births in 2024, compared with 123 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Reya
0316292123200020122024

Decades

Reya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Reya 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 #413 522 5
2010s #1152 336 10
2000s #2495 76 8

Geography

Where Reya is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Reya. 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.

Reya ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #354 in 2022.

Scotland
6
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Reya in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#476 in 2024

6 years of NRS records, 44 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#354 in 2022

1 years of NISRA records, 4 total registered

Related

Names similar to Reya

FAQ

Reya: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Reya was ranked #404 for girls in England and Wales, with 106 births registered.

When was Reya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 123 babies registered as Reya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Reya?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".

How many people are called Reya in the UK?

A total of 934 babies have been registered as Reya across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 44 more in Scotland and 4 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Reya most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Reya ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #354 in 2022. 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.