Rising since 2014, #5,099 for girls today.
Popularity of Inayat since 2014
Babies named Inayat per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 34 |
| 2020s | 110 |
Meaning & origin
Inayat entered U.S. records in 2014 as a girls' name and has been steadily rising in usage since then, reaching its peak rank of 5,099 in 2025. That year, approximately 1 in 64,291 baby girls received the name, indicating its niche but growing appeal. The name is most concentrated in California, the only state where it appears among top state rankings. Inayat's trajectory shows consistent year-over-year increases since 2014, reflecting broader trends of Arabic-derived names gaining visibility in American naming practices. Its meaning of divine care and kindness resonates with parents seeking a spiritually meaningful name that remains uncommon.
Inayat derives from the Arabic root '-n-y' (to care, to tend) and is a direct borrowing of 'inaya,' meaning care, concern, or favor. It is used as a given name particularly in South Asian Muslim communities, where it carries connotations of divine kindness and attentiveness. The name has been adopted more broadly in the English-speaking world in the 21st century, often chosen for its spiritual resonance and lyrical sound.
Where Inayat is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Inayat” around the world
Where Inayat lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
New Zealand
16
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ina, Naya
Variants: Inaayat
Sibling names for Inayat
Names that share Inayat's style, for a brother or sister.
