The name Janiya is a relatively modern variation of the Hebrew name Jania, which is derived from the name Yohanan, meaning "God is gracious." The name Jania itself first emerged in the late 19th century and was initially popular among Jewish families.

While there are no direct historical references to the name Janiya in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots can be traced back to the Hebrew name Yohanan, which appears several times in the Bible, most notably as the name of John the Baptist. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jania date back to the late 19th century in European and American records.

One of the earliest notable figures with the name Jania was Jania Sowińska, a Polish actress born in 1887. Another early example is Jania Beutelrock, a German artist born in 1900. In the early 20th century, the name gained some popularity in the United States, with individuals like Jania Kachurin, a Russian-American ballet dancer born in 1912, and Jania Klonk, an American actress born in 1928.

As the name evolved and variations like Janiya emerged, it became more widely used across different cultures and ethnicities. One notable figure with the name Janiya is Janiya Garifullina, a Russian operatic soprano born in 1989. Another is Janiya Shaimardanova, a Kazakh wrestler and Olympic medalist born in 1990.

Throughout history, several other individuals have borne the name Janiya, including Janiya Qayratovna Bilyalova, a Kazakh singer and actress born in 1942, and Janiya Assaf, a Lebanese singer and actress born in 1957. While not an exhaustive list, these examples showcase the name's diverse cultural representation and its evolution over time.