Niyah
How to say it: nuh-YAH · /nəˈjɑː/
Modern American form of Nia, Swahili 'purpose' - also linked to Arabic Aaliyah 'exalted', with added -yah.
Niyah was the 451st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 49 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 | 49 |
| 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
Niyah is a newcomer: almost all of its history is from the last forty years.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Nia
- Nini
Honouring a Niyah in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Niyah is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French.
In France: #406 for girls in 2025.
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