Nia
How to say it: NEE-uh · /ˈniə/
In Swahili means 'purpose'; in Welsh a short form of Niamh/Ninia meaning 'bright'. Both meanings are in genuine use.
Nia was the 451st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 403 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 51% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #608 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #451 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 403 |
| Share of births | 1 in 4,882 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −51% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #608 |
| In France, 2025 | #406 among girls’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nia peaked in the 2000s.
What goes with it
Honouring a Nia in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Nia is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish, Welsh.
In France: #406 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #317. Ireland: #434.
Famous people named Nia
- Nia Long (born 1970)American actress
- Nia Vardalos (born 1962)Canadian-born American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer of Greek descent
- Nia DaCosta (born 1989)American director and screenwriter
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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