UK girl's name
Sayra
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "traveler" or "wayfarer".
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.
Sayra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sayra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 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 16 living people in the UK are called Sayra. 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
- • Sayra ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 girls were registered as Sayra.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sayra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2021
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Sayra mean?
The name Sayra has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "sayrah," which means "journey" or "travel." This name carries a sense of adventure and exploration, reflecting the nomadic lifestyle of many Arab tribes in the past.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sayra can be found in the historical accounts of the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled over a vast empire stretching from North Africa to Central Asia between the 8th and 13th centuries. During this era, the name was associated with female travelers and explorers who embarked on long journeys across the trade routes of the Silk Road.
In the 10th century, a famous female poet named Sayra al-Andalusiya graced the courts of the Umayyad Caliphate in Cordoba, Spain. Her poetry celebrated the beauty of nature and the joys of travel, reflecting the spirit of her name. Another notable figure was Sayra bint Abi Bakr, a renowned Islamic scholar and teacher who lived in the 12th century and was celebrated for her contributions to the fields of hadith (prophetic traditions) and jurisprudence.
The name Sayra also appeared in various literary works and historical chronicles throughout the medieval period. One such reference can be found in the "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a renowned anthology of Arabic poetry and music compiled in the 9th century. This work includes mentions of several women named Sayra, highlighting the cultural significance of the name during that time.
In the 14th century, a prominent female traveler and explorer from Morocco, Sayra al-Maghribiya, embarked on a remarkable journey across North Africa and the Middle East, documenting her experiences in a travelogue that became a valuable historical record of the era.
Another notable figure was Sayra bint Khalid, a distinguished military leader and strategist who lived in the 7th century during the early years of the Islamic caliphate. She played a crucial role in various military campaigns and was renowned for her bravery and leadership skills.
While the name Sayra has roots in the Arab world and Islamic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in other regions as well. Over the centuries, it has been embraced by diverse communities, each adding their own cultural nuances and interpretations to the name's meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sayra over time
The chart below shows babies named Sayra 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 Sayra, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sayra by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sayra 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 | #5398 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3998 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sayra
- 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
Sayra: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sayra in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sayra was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sayra most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Sayra in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sayra?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "traveler" or "wayfarer".
How many people are called Sayra in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Sayra across the 5 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.