Iya
A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "lady".
Name Census estimates that about 394 living Americans carry the first name Iya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Iya today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Iya births was 2015 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Iya. 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.
People living today
394
~ 1 in 869,935 Americans
Peak year
2015
23 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,232
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Iya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Iya 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 151 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Iya remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Iya 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 Iya 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 Iya
The name Iya traces its origins to West Africa, particularly the Yoruba people of present-day Nigeria. It is believed to have derived from the Yoruba word "iyá," which means "mother." This name is steeped in cultural significance and has been in use for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Iya can be found in the Odu Ifa, a sacred literary corpus of the Yoruba religion. This ancient text, dating back to the 16th century, mentions Iya as a powerful and revered figure, often associated with motherhood, fertility, and nurturing qualities.
In the 18th century, Iya gained prominence as the name of a legendary Yoruba warrior and leader, Iya Abibatu. She was renowned for her bravery and strategic military prowess, leading her forces to several victories against neighboring kingdoms. Iya Abibatu's legacy has been celebrated in oral traditions and folklore, cementing her place in Yoruba history.
Another notable figure bearing the name Iya was Iya Opolopo, a 19th-century Yoruba priestess and healer. She was highly respected for her extensive knowledge of traditional medicine and her ability to commune with the spiritual realm. Iya Opolopo's influence extended beyond her community, and she is remembered as a powerful and influential figure in Yoruba spiritual practices.
In the realm of literature, Iya has been the name of several fictional characters. One of the most famous is Iya Kozigo, the protagonist of the critically acclaimed novel "The Famished Road" by Nigerian author Ben Okri (born in 1959). Iya Kozigo's struggles and resilience in the face of adversity have resonated with readers worldwide.
Moving into the 20th century, Iya Villonga (1904-1989) was a renowned Yoruba artist and sculptor. Her intricate carvings and sculptures depicted various aspects of Yoruba culture, including religious ceremonies, daily life, and traditional attire. Iya Villonga's works have been exhibited in prestigious museums and galleries, showcasing the richness of Yoruba artistic expression.
While the name Iya has its roots in the Yoruba culture, it has transcended its origins and gained recognition in various parts of the world. Its deep-rooted connection to motherhood and nurturing qualities has made it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with cultural significance and positive connotations.
People
Iya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Iya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Iya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Iya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 394 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Iya 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 869,935 US residents.
Is Iya a common name?
We classify Iya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 398 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Iya most popular?
The single biggest year for Iya was 2015, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Iya is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Iya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Iya 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.