Kaliya first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Kaliya has been for the last 32 years (from 1993 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Kaliya

A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "serpent" or "snake".

Popularity of Kaliya by gender

Based on the last 32 years of data, Kaliya is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 51 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kaliya.

Year Male Count Female Count
2024 0 51
2023 0 35
2022 0 37
2021 0 33
2020 0 38
2019 0 33
2018 0 32
2017 0 39
2016 0 38
2015 0 31
2014 0 28
2013 0 46
2012 0 51
2011 0 34
2010 0 37
2009 0 57
2008 0 53
2007 0 48
2006 0 46
2005 0 42
2004 0 39
2003 0 29
2002 0 31
2001 0 29
2000 0 29
1999 0 19
1998 0 11
1997 0 22
1996 0 7
1995 0 7
1993 0 6

The history of the first name Kaliya

The name Kaliya has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was the classical literary language of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "kali," which means "black" or "dark," and is often associated with the Hindu goddess Kali, the fierce and powerful embodiment of divine feminine energy.

In Hindu mythology, Kaliya is the name of a powerful serpent or naga who resided in the Yamuna River near the city of Vrindavan. According to the Bhagavata Purana, one of the most important sacred texts of Hinduism, Lord Krishna subdued and defeated Kaliya after the serpent had poisoned the waters of the river, causing great distress to the inhabitants of Vrindavan.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kaliya can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, which date back to the first millennium BCE. The name gained popularity in India and other parts of South Asia, particularly among Hindu communities.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Kaliya was Kaliya Malla, a 12th-century ruler of the Malla dynasty in Nepal. He is credited with building several temples and monuments in the Kathmandu Valley, including the famous Changu Narayan Temple.

Another notable figure was Kaliya Mardan, a renowned 16th-century Sufi saint and poet from the Indian subcontinent. He was known for his devotional poetry and his teachings on the path of spiritual enlightenment.

In more recent history, Kaliya Singh (1837-1887) was an influential Indian politician and social reformer from the state of Uttar Pradesh. He played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and advocated for the rights of peasants and the abolition of oppressive land revenue systems.

Kaliya Ranjan Qanungo (1888-1953) was a distinguished Indian historian and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Indian history, particularly the medieval period. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.

Kaliya Kunju Rani (1905-1990) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer from Kerala. She was instrumental in reviving and promoting the traditional Mohiniyattam dance form and was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to the field of dance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kaliya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kaliya, please contact us.

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"Kaliya first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 20, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/kaliya-meaning-and-history/.

"Kaliya first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/kaliya-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 20 July, 2025

Kaliya first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/kaliya-meaning-and-history/.

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