Nya

An uncommon African pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's nameAfricanDeclining Also a pet name
#2077 120in 2024

Meaning & Origin

Nya is a girl's baby name of African origin, from several African languages where it carries meanings including 'purpose' (Swahili), 'I' (Dinka, South Sudanese), or as a variant of Nia (Welsh for 'purpose, brightness'). It is short, strong, and carries genuine pan-African resonance.

With nearly 6,000 U.S. births, Nya has found strong appeal in African American communities — it is a name that radiates confidence and clarity in just three letters, with deep roots in African linguistic traditions.

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Popularity Over Time

Nya was #741 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2077, but its charm endures.

0102204306408198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Nya
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s503
2010s1,579
2000s3,029
1990s658
1980s113
1970s58

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(53 years, 19702024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Nya
YearBirthsRank
202493#2077
2023101#1957
2022113#1814
202194#2055
2020102#1890
2019134#1594
2018119#1735
2017123#1734
2016137#1609
2015189#1285
2014195#1245
2013174#1343
2012196#1241
2011142#1552
2010170#1371
2009186#1306
2008221#1163
2007248#1057
2006272#965
2005275#909

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

Nya has two lives

Nya, the baby name
#2077girls
5,940 babies
Currently viewing
Nya, the pet name
#2085pet name
47 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19702024) · Methodology