UK boy's name
Riyaz
An Arabic name meaning "gardens" or "meadows.".
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.
Riyaz is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Riyaz popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 9 births.
This profile covers 76 England and Wales registrations across 16 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 75 living people in the UK are called Riyaz. 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
- • Riyaz ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 9 boys were registered as Riyaz.
- • About 75 living people in the UK are estimated to have Riyaz as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3523
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2007
9 births
Estimated living
75
2026
Meaning
What does Riyaz mean?
The name Riyaz has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "riyadh," which means "garden" or "meadow." It is a masculine name that is widely used in the Middle East, South Asia, and among Muslim communities around the world.
The earliest historical references to the name Riyaz can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. This period saw a significant cultural and scientific renaissance in the Arab world, with many notable scholars, poets, and philosophers emerging from the region.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Riyaz is the 9th century Arab poet and philosopher, Riyaz al-Din al-Qazwini. He was born in the city of Qazvin, in present-day Iran, and was renowned for his contributions to the fields of literature, philosophy, and astronomy.
Another notable historical figure with the name Riyaz was Riyaz al-Mulk, a 12th century Persian vizier (prime minister) who served under the Seljuk Empire. He was known for his administrative skills and played a significant role in the governance of the empire during his time.
In the 13th century, Riyaz al-Din Qazwini was a prominent Persian geographer and astronomer. His work, "Nuzhat al-Qulub" (The Delight of Hearts), was a comprehensive treatise on geography, astronomy, and the natural sciences, and was widely read and studied in the medieval Islamic world.
During the Mughal Empire in India, which lasted from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Riyaz was also popular among the ruling elite. One notable figure was Riyaz Ali Khan, a 17th century Mughal nobleman and military commander who served under the emperor Aurangzeb.
In the 19th century, Riyaz al-Din Khan was a prominent Indian scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Urdu and Persian languages. He was also a prolific writer and poet, and his works are still widely studied and celebrated in South Asia.
These are just a few examples of the many notable historical figures who have borne the name Riyaz throughout the centuries. The name has endured and continues to be popular in various parts of the world, carrying with it a rich cultural and linguistic heritage rooted in the Arabic language and the Islamic tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Riyaz over time
The chart below shows babies named Riyaz 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 Riyaz, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Riyaz by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Riyaz 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 | #3486 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4111 | 19 | 5 |
| 2000s | #2632 | 40 | 7 |
| 1990s | #2663 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Riyaz
- Ryan 68,692
- Riley 37,992
- Robert 27,462
- Reuben 25,122
- Rhys 24,418
- Reece 24,329
- Rory 21,870
- Roman 16,609
- Ronnie 16,445
- Reggie 14,684
- Rowan 14,371
- Ralph 8,892
FAQ
Riyaz: questions and answers
How popular is the name Riyaz in the UK right now?
In 2023, Riyaz was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Riyaz most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 9 babies registered as Riyaz in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Riyaz?
An Arabic name meaning "gardens" or "meadows.".
How many people are called Riyaz in the UK?
A total of 76 babies have been registered as Riyaz across the 16 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.