UK girl's name
Umaya
An Arabic feminine name meaning "high aspiration" or "lofty dream".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Umaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Umaya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4535, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 4 births.
This profile covers 25 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2009 to 2020. 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 25 living people in the UK are called Umaya. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Umaya ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 4 girls were registered as Umaya.
- • About 25 living people in the UK are estimated to have Umaya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4535
2020
Births in 2020
4
Latest year
Peak year
2009
4 births
Estimated living
25
2026
Meaning
What does Umaya mean?
The name Umaya has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with its earliest known use dating back to the 7th century CE. The name is derived from the Arabic root word "umm," which means "mother" or "source," and is often associated with concepts of nurturing, fertility, and motherhood.
In Islamic history, one of the most notable figures bearing the name Umaya was Umm Kulthum bint Muhammad, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. She was born in 604 CE and played a significant role in preserving and transmitting the teachings and traditions of her father.
Another important figure was Umaya bint Abi al-Salt, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a renowned scholar of hadith (prophetic traditions). She lived in the 7th century CE and was praised for her knowledge and contribution to the preservation of Islamic teachings.
In the realm of literature, Umaya bint Al-Nu'man Al-Kalbi was a prominent Arab poet who lived in the 7th century CE. She was known for her eloquence and her contributions to the rich tradition of Arabic poetry.
Moving forward in history, Umaya bint Abi al-Jahm was a prominent figure in the Umayyad dynasty, which ruled the Islamic caliphate from 661 to 750 CE. She was the wife of the Umayyad caliph Mu'awiya I and played a significant role in the political affairs of the time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Umaya was Umaya bint Abd al-Malik, a princess of the Umayyad dynasty who lived in the 8th century CE. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for scholars and poets.
While the name Umaya has its roots in Arabic culture and Islam, it has also been adopted and adapted in various other cultures and languages over time, reflecting the rich diversity and cross-cultural exchange that has shaped human societies throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Umaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Umaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Umaya, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Umaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Umaya 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 | #4535 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5345 | 17 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4564 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Umaya
- Una 945
- Uma 592
- Umaiza 556
- Umaymah 540
- Umme 508
- Ursula 481
- Umaima 407
- Uzma 370
- Umaimah 333
- Umayyah 238
- Umamah 231
- Urwa 200
FAQ
Umaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Umaya in the UK right now?
In 2020, Umaya was ranked #4535 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Umaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 4 babies registered as Umaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Umaya?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "high aspiration" or "lofty dream".
How many people are called Umaya in the UK?
A total of 25 babies have been registered as Umaya across the 7 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.