UK girl's name
Yayra
A feminine Ghanaian name representing Thursday's child.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Yayra is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Yayra popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2009 to 2009. 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.
Yayra is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Yayra. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Yayra ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 girls were registered as Yayra.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Yayra as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Yayra mean?
The name Yayra originates from the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa. It is believed to have its roots in the Akan language, which is spoken by several ethnic groups, including the Ashanti and Fante. The name is thought to be derived from the Akan word "ayera," which means "Thursday."
In Akan culture, each day of the week is associated with a specific name, and Yayra is the name traditionally given to children born on Thursday. This naming tradition has been practiced for centuries and is closely tied to the Akan belief system and cultural identity.
While the name Yayra does not appear to have any specific historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been used by Akan people for generations. Some of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in historical records and genealogical accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
One notable person who bore the name Yayra was Yayra Kroma (c. 1770-1835), a prominent Akan ruler and chief of the Bron Kingdom in present-day Ghana. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts to maintain the independence of his kingdom against colonial powers.
Another historical figure with the name Yayra was Yayra Mensah (c. 1850-1920), a renowned Akan trader and businesswoman from the Ashanti Empire. She was instrumental in facilitating trade between the Ashanti and European merchants during the late 19th century.
In the 20th century, Yayra Dzigbodi (1919-2003) was a Ghanaian educator and women's rights activist who played a significant role in promoting education and empowerment for women in Ghana.
Yayra Bremoh (1928-2015) was a Ghanaian diplomat and politician who served as the country's ambassador to several nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
More recently, Yayra Mununkum (b. 1972) is a Ghanaian writer and journalist who has gained recognition for her work in promoting literacy and literature in Ghana.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Yayra, reflecting its deep roots and cultural significance within the Akan community.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Yayra by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Yayra 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Yayra
- Yasmin 10,052
- Yusra 2,725
- Yasmine 2,474
- Yara 1,487
- Yazmin 806
- Yumna 601
- Yasmeen 527
- Yasmina 518
- Yasemin 513
- Yana 452
- Yvie 377
- Yvonne 368
FAQ
Yayra: questions and answers
How popular is the name Yayra in the UK right now?
In 2009, Yayra was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Yayra most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Yayra in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Yayra?
A feminine Ghanaian name representing Thursday's child.
How many people are called Yayra in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Yayra across the 1 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.