Ayaz is a Turkish name that means "frost" or "clear, cold night", the kind of crisp winter night when the stars stand out; it is also used in Persian, Urdu and across Central Asia. In history Malik Ayaz was the devoted companion of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, a story retold by Persian poets. In the United States Ayaz is chosen by Turkish, Pakistani and Central Asian families: it ranked number 6363 in 2015 and reached its best position so far, number 2607, in 2025 with 50 boys.