Ayaz

Ayaz is a masculine given name derived from Turkish and Azerbaijani ayaz, meaning "frost" or "dry and cold air." The name gained prominence through Malik Ayaz (993–1041), a Georgian slave who became a close companion and trusted general of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. His story is legendary in Persian and Central Asian literature, symbolizing devotion and beauty. The name is used today in Azerbaijani, Turkish, and Urdu-speaking contexts, and it should not be confused with the Arabic-derived Ayyad/Ayyaz (عیاض), which may also be transliterated as Ayaz but has a distinct linguistic origin.

Notable Bearers

• Malik Ayaz (993–1041), Georgian slave and companion of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.
• Ayaz Ahmed (born 1986), Indian television actor.
• Ayaz Amir, Pakistani journalist.
• Ayaz Akhmetshin (born 2002), Russian professional Valorant player known as nAts.
• Shaikh Ayaz (1923–1997), Pakistani poet in the Sindhi language.
• Aliza Ayaz, Emirati United Nations Ambassador.

• Meaning: Frost, dry and cold air
• Origin: Turkic
• Type: Masculine given name
• Usage regions: Azerbaijan, Turkey, Pakistan, India