UK girl's name
Saya
A feminine Japanese name meaning "that over there", often translated as "I".
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.
Saya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Saya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2927, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 19 births.
This profile covers 222 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1999 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 42% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 221 living people in the UK are called Saya. 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
- • Saya ranked #2927 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 19 girls were registered as Saya.
- • About 221 living people in the UK are estimated to have Saya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2927
2023
Births in 2023
8
Latest year
Peak year
2012
19 births
Estimated living
221
2026
Meaning
What does Saya mean?
The name Saya is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was widely used in the Indian subcontinent. Saya is derived from the Sanskrit word "sāya," which means "evening" or "night." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been given to children born in the evening hours.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Saya can be found in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a minor character. However, the exact time period in which this text was composed is uncertain, with estimates ranging from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE.
Throughout history, the name Saya has been used across various cultures and regions, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. In the 12th century, there was a renowned Indian philosopher named Saya Narayana, who made significant contributions to the field of Vedanta, a branch of Hindu philosophy.
Moving further along the timeline, in the 16th century, there was a notable figure named Saya U Kaung, who was a prominent Buddhist monk and scholar in Burma (now Myanmar). He played a crucial role in preserving and propagating Buddhist teachings during his time.
In more recent history, Saya Viengkham, born in 1958, is a prominent Lao politician and former Deputy Prime Minister of Laos. She has been actively involved in the political landscape of her country and has held several influential positions within the government.
Another notable individual with the name Saya is Saya Zamanhuri, an Indonesian poet and playwright born in 1923. He was a prominent figure in the literary and cultural scene of Indonesia, and his works have made a lasting impact on the country's literary heritage.
It is important to note that while these examples showcase the historical presence of the name Saya, its usage and popularity may have varied across different regions and time periods. The name's connection to the Sanskrit language and its roots in ancient texts suggest a rich cultural and linguistic heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Saya over time
The chart below shows babies named Saya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Saya, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2023, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Saya 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 | #3316 | 27 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2316 | 126 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3270 | 66 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Saya
- 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
Saya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Saya in the UK right now?
In 2023, Saya was ranked #2927 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Saya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 19 babies registered as Saya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Saya?
A feminine Japanese name meaning "that over there", often translated as "I".
How many people are called Saya in the UK?
A total of 222 babies have been registered as Saya across the 25 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.