Halia
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "brilliant, gorgeous".
Name Census estimates that about 1,017 living Americans carry the first name Halia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Halia today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Halia births was 2023 (64 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Halia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Halia is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 13 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.0K
~ 1 in 337,025 Americans
Peak year
2023
64 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,828
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Halia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Halia from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 382 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Halia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Halia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Halia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Halias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Hawaii, California, Texas recorded the most babies named Halia, while Arizona, Washington, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 66 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Halia
The name Halia is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, where it was derived from the word "halia" meaning "turmeric." This vibrant golden spice held great cultural significance in various regions of the Indian subcontinent, often associated with auspiciousness, purity, and healing properties.
During the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, the name Halia can be found mentioned in several Vedic texts, such as the Rigveda and the Atharvaveda, where it is referenced in connection with various rituals and ceremonies involving the use of turmeric.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Halia can be traced back to the 6th century BCE, when it was borne by a renowned Sanskrit scholar and grammarian, Halia Pathaka. Her contributions to the field of linguistics and grammar were highly regarded during her time.
In the 3rd century BCE, Halia Datta, a celebrated poet and playwright, gained recognition for her works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her plays were widely performed and appreciated throughout the ancient Indian kingdoms.
During the Gupta Empire, which ruled from the 4th to 6th centuries CE, the name Halia gained further prominence. Halia Gupta, a skilled artisan and sculptor, is credited with creating some of the most exquisite stone carvings and sculptures that adorned the grand temples and palaces of the Gupta rulers.
In the 9th century CE, Halia Devi, a revered mystic and spiritual teacher, gained a significant following among the devotees of the Bhakti movement. Her teachings on devotion, compassion, and self-realization inspired many and left a lasting impact on the spiritual landscape of the time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Halia was Halia Parameshvara, a brilliant mathematician and astronomer who lived during the 12th century CE. Her groundbreaking work in the field of astronomy and her contributions to the development of mathematical concepts were highly acclaimed by scholars of her era.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who carried the name Halia, each leaving an indelible mark on various aspects of ancient Indian culture, arts, sciences, and spirituality.
People
Halia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Halia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Halia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Halia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,017 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Halia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 337,025 US residents.
Is Halia a common name?
We classify Halia as "Rare". It ranks above 90.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,027 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Halia most popular?
The single biggest year for Halia was 2023, when 64 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Halia is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Halia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Halia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.