UK girl's name
Saraya
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "traveler" or "journey".
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.
Saraya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saraya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1894, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 20 births.
This profile covers 213 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1997 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 212 living people in the UK are called Saraya. 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
- • Saraya ranked #1894 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 20 girls were registered as Saraya.
- • About 212 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saraya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1894
2024
Births in 2024
15
Latest year
Peak year
2012
20 births
Estimated living
212
2026
Meaning
What does Saraya mean?
The name Saraya is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, deriving from the word "Sara," which means "traveler" or "journey." This name has been in use for centuries across various regions of the Middle East and North Africa.
In ancient times, the name Saraya was often associated with nomadic tribes and those who led a wandering lifestyle. It was seen as a symbolic representation of the journey through life and the experiences one encounters along the way.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Saraya can be found in the ancient Arabic poetry of the 6th century CE. Poets and storytellers would often use the name to personify the spirit of adventure and exploration.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Saraya. In the 9th century CE, Saraya al-Qadiri was a renowned scholar and poet from Baghdad, known for her contribution to the field of Arabic literature.
During the 12th century, Saraya bint al-Hafiz was a prominent figure in the court of the Ayyubid dynasty in Egypt. She was celebrated for her intellect and patronage of the arts.
In the 16th century, Saraya al-Nabulsi was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Nablus, Palestine. Her works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology were widely studied and respected.
Moving forward in time, Saraya Gomis was a 19th-century Senegalese writer and activist who fought for the rights of women and advocated for education and social reform.
Another notable figure was Saraya Bendavid, a 20th-century Moroccan artist and sculptor whose works reflected the vibrant cultural heritage of her country.
The name Saraya has endured through the ages, carrying with it a rich history and a sense of wanderlust. Its origins in the Arabic language and its association with nomadic tribes have given it a unique and evocative meaning that continues to resonate with people from various cultures and backgrounds.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Saraya over time
The chart below shows babies named Saraya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Saraya, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saraya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saraya 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 | #2159 | 62 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2794 | 94 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3472 | 48 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3156 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Saraya
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Saraya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Saraya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Saraya was ranked #1894 for girls in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.
When was Saraya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 20 babies registered as Saraya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Saraya?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "traveler" or "journey".
How many people are called Saraya in the UK?
A total of 213 babies have been registered as Saraya across the 26 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.