Naiyah
feminine Arabic name meaning "ambition" or "aspiration".
Name Census estimates that about 371 living Americans carry the first name Naiyah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Naiyah today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naiyah births was 2018 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naiyah. 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
371
~ 1 in 923,866 Americans
Peak year
2018
27 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,005
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Naiyah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naiyah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 199 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Naiyah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naiyah 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 Naiyah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Naiyahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Naiyah, while New York, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 17 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Naiyah
The name Naiyah finds its roots in the Arabic language and culture. It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions where Arabic was widely spoken. The name is derived from the Arabic word "nai," which means "gift" or "present," suggesting that Naiyah may have been bestowed upon children viewed as precious gifts.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naiyah can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Islamic Golden Age. It is mentioned in several historical texts and records from that period, indicating its usage among Arabic-speaking communities.
Throughout history, the name Naiyah has been associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Naiyah bint Hashim, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE in present-day Iraq. Her works were highly regarded for their literary merit and philosophical insights.
Another notable bearer of the name was Naiyah al-Andalusi, a prominent mathematician and astronomer from 11th century Andalusia (modern-day Spain). Her contributions to the fields of mathematics and celestial mechanics were significant, and she is often cited as one of the pioneering female scholars of her time.
In the 13th century, Naiyah al-Hadrami gained recognition as a skilled calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts. Her intricate and beautiful works adorned many important texts and documents, showcasing her artistic talent and dedication to preserving literary and cultural heritage.
The 15th century saw the rise of Naiyah al-Qahiri, a influential Islamic jurist and scholar from Cairo, Egypt. Her interpretations of Islamic law and jurisprudence were widely respected, and she played a significant role in shaping legal discourse during her lifetime.
Naiyah al-Malikah, who lived in 17th century Morocco, was a prominent figure in the realm of medicine and natural sciences. Her contributions to the study of medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties were groundbreaking, earning her recognition among her contemporaries and future generations.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Naiyah and made notable contributions in various fields, reflecting the rich cultural and intellectual heritage associated with this name.
People
Naiyah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naiyah 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
Naiyah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naiyah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 371 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naiyah 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 923,866 US residents.
Is Naiyah a common name?
We classify Naiyah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 375 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naiyah most popular?
The single biggest year for Naiyah was 2018, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naiyah is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Naiyah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naiyah 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.