Naleah
An invented name of uncertain origin and meaning, often considered a variant of Nalia or Nalia.
Name Census estimates that about 438 living Americans carry the first name Naleah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Naleah today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naleah births was 2009 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naleah. 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
438
~ 1 in 782,544 Americans
Peak year
2009
30 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,262
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Naleah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naleah 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 248 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Naleah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naleah 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 Naleah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Naleahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Naleah
The name Naleah is a relatively modern invention, with its origins traced back to the late 20th century. While its exact derivation is unclear, it is believed to be a combination of the Hebrew name Nahla, meaning "honeycomb," and the English name Leah, derived from the Hebrew word "weary." This blending of elements from different linguistic roots reflects the growing trend of creating unique and distinctive names.
Despite its recent coinage, Naleah has gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its melodic sound and blend of cultural influences have contributed to its appeal among parents seeking names with a sense of uniqueness and cross-cultural significance.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Naleah can be traced back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, with its usage gradually increasing in the following decades. While there are no notable historical figures bearing this name, it has been adopted by several individuals in various fields, reflecting its growing acceptance and popularity.
One of the earliest individuals to bear the name Naleah was Naleah Marie Potter, an American singer and songwriter born in 1995. Her music, which blends elements of pop and R&B, has garnered a dedicated following, particularly among younger audiences.
Another notable Naleah is Naleah Nasi, a Fijian athlete born in 2002, who has represented her country in various international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Pacific Games.
In the realm of literature, Naleah is the name of a protagonist in the young adult novel series "The Naleah Chronicles" by author Liza M. Wiemer, which explores themes of self-discovery, adventure, and personal growth.
The name has also been embraced in the world of business, with Naleah Gower, an American entrepreneur born in 1988, founding a successful sustainable fashion brand that promotes ethical and eco-friendly practices.
Lastly, Naleah Samantha Jackson, born in 2005, is a rising star in the field of competitive figure skating, having achieved numerous accolades and representing her country on the international stage.
While the name Naleah may be relatively new, its unique blend of cultural influences and its growing popularity suggest that it may continue to gain recognition and significance in the years to come.
People
Naleah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naleah 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
Naleah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naleah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 438 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naleah 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 782,544 US residents.
Is Naleah a common name?
We classify Naleah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 442 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naleah most popular?
The single biggest year for Naleah was 2009, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naleah is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Naleah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Naleah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naleah 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.
Is Naleah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Naleah in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Naleah can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Naleah?
Find out how many Americans are named Naleah on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.