Hayah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "life" or "alive".
Name Census estimates that about 45 living Americans carry the first name Hayah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hayah today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hayah births was 2019 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hayah. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hayah. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
45
~ 1 in 7,616,763 Americans
Peak year
2019
10 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,048
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Hayah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hayah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 21 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hayah 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 Hayah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hayah
The name Hayah originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Semitic languages of the Middle East. It is derived from the Arabic word "hayat," which means "life" or "to live." The name Hayah is a feminine name that carries the essence of vitality, existence, and the fundamental essence of being alive.
In Arabic culture, names often hold deep symbolic meanings, and Hayah is no exception. It is believed that bestowing a name like Hayah upon a child is a way of imparting blessings and well-wishes for a life filled with vibrancy, energy, and longevity.
Historically, the name Hayah can be traced back to ancient Arabic texts and literature. Although it may not have been explicitly mentioned in religious scriptures, the concept of life and its significance is deeply ingrained in the teachings of Islam and other Abrahamic faiths.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hayah can be found in the writings of the renowned Arab poet and philosopher, Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri, who lived from 973 to 1057 CE. In his poetic works, he often explored themes of existence, mortality, and the essence of life.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hayah. One such individual was Hayah bint al-Husayn (born around 637 CE), a prominent figure in early Islamic history who was known for her piety and wisdom. She was the daughter of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Another prominent figure was Hayah al-Rayyis (born in the late 12th century CE), a female Arab poet and scholar from Damascus. Her poetic works celebrated the beauty of life and nature, and she was highly regarded for her literary talents during her time.
In the modern era, the name Hayah has been carried by several notable individuals, including Hayah Al-Maliki (born 1964), an Iraqi-Canadian artist and educator known for her vibrant and expressive paintings depicting the human experience.
Hayah Bint Al Sayed (born 1990) is a prominent Bahraini entrepreneur and advocate for women's empowerment. She has been recognized for her contributions to promoting sustainable development and gender equality in the Middle East.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Hayah throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of cultures and societies in their own unique ways, while embodying the essence of life and vitality associated with this name.
People
Hayah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hayah 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
Hayah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hayah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 45 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hayah 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 7,616,763 US residents.
Is Hayah a common name?
We classify Hayah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 45 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hayah most popular?
The single biggest year for Hayah was 2019, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hayah is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hayah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hayah 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.