Nadiah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "compassionate" or "one who calls".
Name Census estimates that about 512 living Americans carry the first name Nadiah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nadiah today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nadiah births was 2007 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nadiah. 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
512
~ 1 in 669,442 Americans
Peak year
2007
30 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,688
Tracked since 1981
Popularity
Nadiah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nadiah from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 222 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nadiah 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 Nadiah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nadiahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Nadiah, while Florida, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 11 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nadiah
The name Nadiah has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating from the word "nada," which means "dew" or "moisture." It is believed to have been in use since ancient times in the Middle Eastern region.
Nadiah is a feminine name that carries connotations of freshness, purity, and vitality, much like the dew that glistens on the leaves in the early morning hours. The name's association with the natural world and the cycle of life has contributed to its enduring popularity throughout the centuries.
In Islamic tradition, the name Nadiah can be found in various historical texts and records, although its earliest documented usage is not precisely known. Some scholars suggest that it may have been mentioned in ancient Arabian poetry or literature, reflecting its deep-rooted connection to the region's cultural heritage.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nadiah was a renowned poet from the 7th century CE, known as Nadiah bint Malik al-Kilabiyah. Her poetic works were celebrated for their eloquence and emotional depth, and she is considered a significant figure in the history of Arabic literature.
Another notable figure bearing the name Nadiah was Nadiah al-Baghdadiyah, a 9th-century scholar and linguist from Baghdad. She is renowned for her contributions to the study of Arabic grammar and syntax, and her writings were widely referenced by scholars of her time.
In the 12th century, Nadiah bint al-Muqaddam al-Qaysarani was a prominent Sufi mystic and poet from Egypt. Her spiritual verses and teachings continue to inspire and influence the Sufi tradition to this day.
During the Ottoman Empire era, Nadiah Sultan was a influential figure in the 16th century. As the daughter of Sultan Selim II and wife of Sultan Murad III, she played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the empire.
More recently, in the 20th century, Nadiah Mun'im Bashir was a renowned Egyptian actress and singer. Born in 1919, she graced the silver screen with her talent and became a beloved figure in the Arab entertainment industry, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.
These are just a few examples of remarkable individuals who have carried the name Nadiah throughout history, each leaving their unique imprint on the world in their respective fields and eras.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Nadiah
People
Nadiah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nadiah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nadiah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nadiah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 512 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nadiah 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 669,442 US residents.
Is Nadiah a common name?
We classify Nadiah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 521 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nadiah most popular?
The single biggest year for Nadiah was 2007, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nadiah is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nadiah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nadiah 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.