UK girl's name
Summaya
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "lofty" or "sublime".
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.
Summaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Summaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4843, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 17 births.
This profile covers 169 England and Wales registrations across 22 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 24% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 168 living people in the UK are called Summaya. 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
- • Summaya ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 17 girls were registered as Summaya.
- • About 168 living people in the UK are estimated to have Summaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4843
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2010
17 births
Estimated living
168
2026
Meaning
What does Summaya mean?
The name Summaya is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots tracing back to the Middle East region during ancient times. It is derived from the Arabic word "sama," which means "elevated" or "high." This suggests that the name Summaya may have initially been associated with concepts of nobility, loftiness, or spiritual ascension.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Summaya can be found in Islamic scriptures and historical accounts from the 7th century. Summaya bint Khayyat, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, is considered one of the earliest known individuals to bear this name. Her life and unwavering faith in the face of persecution by the Quraish tribe in Mecca have been recorded in various Islamic traditions.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Summaya. In the 10th century, Summaya al-Maqdisiyya was a renowned poet and scholar from Jerusalem, known for her contributions to Arabic literature. Another figure of note is Summaya Ramadan, an Egyptian activist and journalist who played a significant role in the Egyptian revolution of 2011, advocating for women's rights and social justice.
During the Mamluk Sultanate era, which spanned from the 13th to the 16th century, the name Summaya gained prominence among the ruling elite. Summaya al-Sultani, a princess and the daughter of Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil, was a prominent figure at the Mamluk court in Cairo.
In more recent times, Summaya Farhat-Naser, a Palestinian diplomat and activist, served as the ambassador of Palestine to various European countries, advocating for Palestinian rights and international recognition of a Palestinian state.
The name Summaya has also been associated with individuals from other cultures and regions, although its origins can be traced back to the Arabic language. For example, Summaya Rashid is a British-Pakistani journalist and writer who has covered various social and political issues in her work.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Summaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Summaya 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 Summaya, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Summaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Summaya 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 | #4371 | 9 | 2 |
| 2010s | #2871 | 95 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2892 | 59 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3862 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Summaya
- 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
Summaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Summaya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Summaya was ranked #4843 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Summaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 17 babies registered as Summaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Summaya?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "lofty" or "sublime".
How many people are called Summaya in the UK?
A total of 169 babies have been registered as Summaya across the 22 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.