NamesPop

Ligaya

A girl's name of Malay origin with 65 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A barangay of Aglipay, Quirino, Philippines.

Ligaya is a girl's baby name of Filipino origin, from the Tagalog word ligaya, meaning 'happiness' or 'joy.' It is a traditional Filipino given name that has been used for generations in the Philippines and Filipino communities worldwide.

Ligaya is a name that wears its meaning on its sleeve — and what a beautiful meaning. It's bright, cheerful, and utterly distinctive to Filipino heritage, a name that celebrates joy from the first syllable.

EtymologyShow more

Ligaya first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1969. Arriving in the 1960s, Ligaya appeared during a period when American naming was beginning to diversify beyond the traditional Anglo-Saxon and biblical pools.

Its Malay classification suggests a path from malay linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.

At a Glance

Unranked
Current Rank
65
Total births
Since 1969
1980
Peak year
7 births
Compare Ligaya with another name

Popularity Over Time

Ligaya has 11+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1969.

02457198020002018
First appeared: 1969Peak: 1980 (7 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Ligaya
DecadeBirthsTrend
2010s12
2000s6
1980s7
1970s34
1960s6

The Story of Ligaya

A Gen X name

Peaking in 1980, Ligaya is a Gen X staple. Girls named Ligaya are most likely born between 1970 and 1990.

How rare is Ligaya?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Ligaya is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1969, peaked in the 1970s with 34 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Ligaya by the numbers

  • Would fill 1 school bus

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(11 years, 19692018)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Ligaya
YearBirthsRank
20185#17101
20117#14190
20076#16709
19807#8667
19795#11156
19776#9120
19766#8741
19755#9897
19736#7971
19716#7900
19696#7090

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ligaya a boy's or girl's name?
Ligaya is primarily a girl's name.
When was Ligaya most popular?
Ligaya reached its peak popularity in 1980 with 7 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.
How popular is the name Ligaya?
Ligaya is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 65 babies in the U.S. since 1969. Its peak was in 1980.

Explore More

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 19692018