Zya
Of unknown origin, potentially derived from Arabic with a meaning related to light or luminance.
Name Census estimates that about 1,189 living Americans carry the first name Zya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zya today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zya births was 2022 (144 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zya. 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
- • Zya is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 10 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.2K
~ 1 in 288,271 Americans
Peak year
2022
144 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,629
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Zya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zya from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 504 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
Zya 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 Zya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Zyas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Zya, while Oklahoma, Mississippi, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 24 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Zya
The name Zya is believed to have originated from the ancient Phoenician language, which was spoken in the region now known as Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Israel. The earliest known use of the name can be traced back to around the 5th century BCE.
Zya is thought to be derived from the Phoenician word "zayyin," which means "olive tree" or "olive branch." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with fertility, abundance, and peace, as the olive tree and its branches were significant symbols in ancient Phoenician culture.
While there are no direct references to the name Zya in ancient Phoenician texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that the name was used among the common people of the time. The Phoenicians were known for their seafaring and trading prowess, and it is conceivable that the name may have spread to other regions through their travels and interactions with other cultures.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Zya was a Phoenician merchant who lived in the city of Tyre around 400 BCE. Although little is known about his life, his name appears in a few historical records related to trade agreements between the Phoenicians and the Greeks.
Another notable figure with the name Zya was a Phoenician philosopher who lived in the 2nd century BCE. While his exact birth and death dates are unknown, he is mentioned in several ancient Greek texts as a prominent thinker and teacher of his time.
In the 1st century CE, there was a Phoenician poet named Zya who gained some recognition for her works celebrating the beauty of nature and the sea. Unfortunately, most of her poetry has been lost to time, but a few fragments have been preserved in various literary anthologies.
During the Byzantine era, a Christian monk named Zya lived in the 6th century CE. He is known for his writings on the virtues of asceticism and his contributions to the monastic traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Lastly, in the 10th century CE, there was a Phoenician artist named Zya who became renowned for his intricate mosaics and decorative tiles. Several of his works can still be found adorning the walls and floors of ancient buildings in Lebanon and Syria.
While the name Zya may not be as widely recognized today, its ancient Phoenician roots and historical significance make it a unique and intriguing choice for a name, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage.
People
Zya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,189 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zya 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 288,271 US residents.
Is Zya a common name?
We classify Zya as "Rare". It ranks above 91.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,199 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zya most popular?
The single biggest year for Zya was 2022, when 144 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zya is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zya 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.