UK boy's name
Uday
A Hindu name meaning "sunrise" or "to rise, to grow".
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.
Uday is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Uday popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 7 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2001 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Uday. 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
- • Uday ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 7 boys were registered as Uday.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Uday as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2018
7 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Uday mean?
The name Uday is derived from the Sanskrit word 'udaya,' which means 'rise' or 'dawn.' It is a popular name in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in the Hindu community. The name has its roots in ancient Indian culture and has been in use for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Uday can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Uday was the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandavas in the great battle of Kurukshetra. The name was also mentioned in the Puranas, a collection of ancient Hindu texts that narrate stories and legends.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Uday. One of the most famous was Uday Singh (1672-1720), a Rajput king who ruled the princely state of Marwar (now part of Rajasthan, India). He was known for his military prowess and his efforts to modernize his kingdom.
Another prominent figure was Uday Shankar (1900-1977), an Indian dancer and choreographer who is widely regarded as a pioneer of modern dance in India. He introduced Indian dance forms to the West and was instrumental in popularizing them worldwide.
In more recent times, Uday Narayan Singh (1939-1997) was a renowned Indian politician and lawyer who served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from 1988 to 1989. He was also a member of the Indian National Congress party and played a significant role in the country's political landscape.
Uday Pratap Singh (1901-1968) was an Indian freedom fighter and a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement. He actively participated in the non-violent civil disobedience movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned multiple times for his participation in the struggle against British rule.
Lastly, Uday Narayanan (born 1968) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his critically acclaimed movies such as "Ayya" and "Mounam Pesiyadhe." He has won several awards for his contributions to the Tamil film industry.
These are just a few examples of the notable individuals who have borne the name Uday throughout history. The name continues to be popular in India and is often chosen for its auspicious meaning and rich cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Uday over time
The chart below shows babies named Uday registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 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 Uday, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Uday by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Uday 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 | #3104 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3915 | 22 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3143 | 18 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Uday
- Umar 4,932
- Usman 2,413
- Uzair 1,549
- Umair 1,044
- Uthman 531
- Usmaan 476
- Uwais 438
- Ubaid 383
- Umer 325
- Umut 303
- Uzayr 299
- Uriel 276
FAQ
Uday: questions and answers
How popular is the name Uday in the UK right now?
In 2024, Uday was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Uday most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 7 babies registered as Uday in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Uday?
A Hindu name meaning "sunrise" or "to rise, to grow".
How many people are called Uday in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Uday across the 13 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.