UK girl's name
Rhaya
A feminine name derived from Arabic, meaning "one who nurtures or tends to flowers".
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.
Rhaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Rhaya 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 8 births.
This profile covers 49 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2010 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 49 living people in the UK are called Rhaya. 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
- • Rhaya ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 8 girls were registered as Rhaya.
- • About 49 living people in the UK are estimated to have Rhaya 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
8 births
Estimated living
49
2026
Meaning
What does Rhaya mean?
The name Rhaya is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the classical literary language of ancient India. It is thought to have derived from the Sanskrit word "raya," meaning "wealth" or "prosperity." The name's roots can be traced back to the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
Rhaya was a relatively common name among the ancient Hindu communities of the Indian subcontinent. It was often bestowed upon children as a symbol of well-being and abundance. The name gained particular popularity during the classical period of Indian history, which lasted from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rhaya can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Rhaya is mentioned as the name of a minor character, a princess from the kingdom of Kashi (modern-day Varanasi). This reference dates back to around the 4th century BCE.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Rhaya. One such figure was Rhaya Devi, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived in the 12th century CE. She was renowned for her contributions to the field of Sanskrit literature and is believed to have been a patron of the arts.
Another prominent individual with the name Rhaya was Rhaya Shastri (1876-1952), an Indian philosopher and social reformer. He was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement and played a significant role in promoting the ideals of non-violence and civil disobedience.
In the realm of art and culture, Rhaya Bhushan (1924-2002) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She was widely recognized for her contributions to the revival and preservation of the Kathak dance form, a classical dance style from northern India.
Rhaya Singh (1938-2015) was a distinguished Indian physicist and academic. She made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics and served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lucknow from 1996 to 2001.
Lastly, Rhaya Kapoor (born 1981) is a contemporary Indian actress and model. She has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows and is known for her work in the entertainment industry.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Rhaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Rhaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 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 Rhaya, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Rhaya 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 | #3564 | 19 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4201 | 30 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Rhaya
- Ruby 60,551
- Rebecca 45,764
- Rosie 35,558
- Rachel 19,034
- Rose 18,043
- Robyn 14,556
- Rosa 6,236
- Rhiannon 6,180
- Rachael 4,702
- Rebekah 4,395
- Rhianna 4,177
- Ruth 4,118
FAQ
Rhaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Rhaya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Rhaya was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Rhaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 8 babies registered as Rhaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Rhaya?
A feminine name derived from Arabic, meaning "one who nurtures or tends to flowers".
How many people are called Rhaya in the UK?
A total of 49 babies have been registered as Rhaya across the 9 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.