UK girl's name
Sorayah
A girl's name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from an Arabic name meaning "heavenly" or "exalted".
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.
Sorayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sorayah 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 2020, with 10 births.
This profile covers 90 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2006 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 90 living people in the UK are called Sorayah. 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
- • Sorayah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 10 girls were registered as Sorayah.
- • About 90 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sorayah 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
2020
10 births
Estimated living
90
2026
Meaning
What does Sorayah mean?
The name Sorayah is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "suraya" which means "the Pleiades star cluster" or "brilliant." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East during the early Islamic period, around the 7th or 8th century CE.
Sorayah has roots in ancient Arabic culture and astronomy. The Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters, held significant importance in the Arab world as a navigational aid for travelers and as a symbol of fertility and abundance. The name Sorayah was likely given to girls born under the influence of this celestial formation.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name Sorayah in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that the name was used among Arab communities during the early Islamic era. However, the earliest recorded examples of the name are relatively recent, dating back only a few centuries.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Sorayah was Sorayah al-Kadhimiya, an Iraqi poet and scholar who lived in the late 18th century. She was renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature and her mastery of the Arabic language.
Another notable figure with the name Sorayah was Sorayah Bint Al-Mutair, a Saudi Arabian businesswoman and philanthropist who lived in the 20th century. She was known for her work in promoting women's empowerment and education in Saudi Arabia.
In more recent times, Sorayah Cherif was a Tunisian actress and dancer who gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s for her performances in Egyptian and Tunisian films. She was celebrated for her beauty and talent, and her name became synonymous with grace and elegance.
Sorayah Farouk was an Egyptian writer and journalist who lived in the late 20th century. She was a prominent figure in the Egyptian literary scene and wrote extensively on topics related to women's rights and social issues.
Sorayah Al-Moussa is a contemporary Lebanese artist and sculptor. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and she is known for her innovative use of materials and her exploration of themes related to identity and cultural heritage.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Sorayah throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultures and societies they were a part of.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sorayah over time
The chart below shows babies named Sorayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Sorayah, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sorayah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sorayah 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 | #3806 | 32 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4243 | 45 | 9 |
| 2000s | #4260 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Sorayah
- 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
Sorayah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sorayah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sorayah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sorayah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 10 babies registered as Sorayah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sorayah?
A girl's name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from an Arabic name meaning "heavenly" or "exalted".
How many people are called Sorayah in the UK?
A total of 90 babies have been registered as Sorayah across the 17 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.