NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Saira

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "traveller" or "wanderer".

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.

Saira is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saira popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1097, with 31 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 73 births.

This profile covers 1,376 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 42% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,438 living people in the UK are called Saira. 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

  • Saira ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 31 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 73 girls were registered as Saira.
  • Saira ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
  • About 1,438 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saira as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1097

2024

Births in 2024

31

Latest year

Peak year

1996

73 births

Estimated living

1,438

2026

Meaning

What does Saira mean?

The name Saira has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating from the word "sair," which means "traveler" or "wayfarer." It is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam, around the 7th century AD.

The name Saira was particularly popular in regions with a strong Arabic and Islamic influence, such as the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. It was often given to girls with the hope that they would embark on a spiritual journey or lead a life filled with adventure and exploration.

One of the earliest known references to the name Saira can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was used to describe the wandering souls or nomadic tribes of the desert regions. In some Islamic texts, the name is mentioned as a symbol of perseverance and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Saira. One of the earliest recorded examples is Saira al-Andalusiyya, a renowned Andalusian poet who lived in the 11th century. She was known for her eloquent verses and contributions to the literary culture of the time.

Another prominent figure was Saira Banu, an Indian actress born in 1944, who achieved widespread acclaim for her performances in Bollywood films during the 1960s and 1970s. She was celebrated for her beauty, talent, and grace on the silver screen.

In the realm of music, Saira Nur, a Pakistani singer and songwriter born in 1982, has gained recognition for her soulful voice and poetic lyrics, blending traditional Pakistani and contemporary Western influences.

The name Saira has also been carried by notable scholars and intellectuals, such as Saira Bano, an Indian academic and educator born in 1941, who made significant contributions to the field of education and women's empowerment.

Additionally, Saira Malik, a British actress and writer born in 1976, has made her mark in the entertainment industry, appearing in various television shows and films, while also championing diversity and representation in the arts.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and cultural significance associated with the name Saira, which has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Saira over time

The chart below shows babies named Saira registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Saira, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 31 births in 2024, compared with 73 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Saira
018375573199620102024

Decades

Saira by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saira 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 #1131 148 5
2010s #901 421 10
2000s #558 595 10
1990s #534 212 4

Geography

Where Saira is most common

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

Saira ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Saira in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#760 in 2022

16 years of NRS records, 71 total registered

Related

Names similar to Saira

FAQ

Saira: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Saira was ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales, with 31 births registered.

When was Saira most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 73 babies registered as Saira in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Saira?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "traveller" or "wanderer".

How many people are called Saira in the UK?

A total of 1,376 babies have been registered as Saira across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 71 more in Scotland.

Where is Saira most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Saira ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #760 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.