Given name & surname
Nayan
“having beautiful eyes”
Nayan is used as a given name and a surname. One Indian interpretation is “having beautiful eyes.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Indian interpretation is “having beautiful eyes.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Indian.
How it developed
Nayan is a variant of Nathan. The shared background comes through Nathan: Nathan can stand as its own biblical name. Nathan has also been used as a short form of Nathaniel or Jonathan, but those later naming practices do not fully explain its origin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1990. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Nayan is a variant of Nathan. The history of Nathan gives this family its wider story. In the biblical account, Nathan is the prophet who confronts King David over the death of Uriah and David’s relationship with Bathsheba. Another Nathan is one of David’s sons.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Nayan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 583
- 578 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 2012
- 32 babies
- 2025
- 28
- #3,919 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −21%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 28 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,919 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 20.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,033 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nayan’s family of names
Nayan has a related form in Nathan. Nayan has a related form in Nayana. Nayan has a related form in Nayane.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Nayan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rajan
“a king”
>99% boys
Naresh
“ruler of men, king” · “a king”
>99% boys
Naveen
“a pleasant, lovely woman” · “one who is strong-willed”
89% boys · 11% girls
Nandan
“one who is pleasing”
>99% boys
Kumar
“a prince; a male child”
>99% boys
Sagar
“a king” · “one who is wise”
>99% boys
Nand
“filled with joy”
>99% boys
Kalyan
“a beautiful and auspicious woman” · “one who is happy and prosperous”
>99% boys