Laia
An Old Germanic feminine name derived from the word meaning "linden tree".
Name Census estimates that about 1,037 living Americans carry the first name Laia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Laia today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Laia births was 2022 (130 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Laia. 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
- • Laia is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 8 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.0K
~ 1 in 330,525 Americans
Peak year
2022
130 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,056
Tracked since 1980
Popularity
Laia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Laia from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 494 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
Laia 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 Laia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Laias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. New York, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Laia, while Michigan, Maryland, Louisiana recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 38 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Laia
Laia is a feminine given name of Catalan origin, derived from the Latin name Eulalia. It first emerged in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia in Spain during the medieval period.
The name Eulalia itself has Greek roots, with the elements "eu" meaning "well" and "lalia" meaning "speech" or "eloquence." It was a popular name among early Christian martyrs, with Saint Eulalia of Mérida being one of the most well-known figures associated with this name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Laia can be found in the 13th-century Catalan epic poem "Libre dels fets del rei en Jaume," which chronicles the life of King James I of Aragon. The poem mentions a character named Laia, suggesting the name's usage during that time.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Laia. One of the most prominent was Laia Santamaría Ventura (1818-1880), a Spanish nun and founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. She is renowned for her work in education and care for the underprivileged.
Another historical figure was Laia Manresa (1904-1976), a Catalan poet and writer who played a significant role in the Catalan literary movement of the early 20th century. Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
In the realm of music, Laia Genc (born 1976) is a Spanish singer and songwriter known for her fusion of traditional Catalan folk music with contemporary styles. Her albums have garnered critical acclaim and contributed to the preservation of Catalan cultural heritage.
Moving to the arts, Laia Abril (born 1986) is a renowned Spanish documentary photographer and artist. Her powerful and thought-provoking works have addressed topics such as gender violence, eating disorders, and the representation of women in society.
Finally, Laia Sanz (born 1985) is a Spanish motorcycle and rally raid rider who has achieved numerous victories and records in off-road racing competitions. She is considered a pioneer in her field and has inspired many young women to pursue their dreams in motorsports.
People
Laia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Laia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Laia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Laia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,037 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Laia 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 330,525 US residents.
Is Laia a common name?
We classify Laia as "Rare". It ranks above 90.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,045 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Laia most popular?
The single biggest year for Laia was 2022, when 130 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Laia is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Laia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Laia 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.