UK girl's name
Naiah
Short Hebrew feminine name meaning "wanderer" or "motion".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Naiah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Naiah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2018 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Naiah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Naiah ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 4 girls were registered as Naiah.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naiah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2022
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Naiah mean?
The name Naiah is a relatively modern variation of the Hebrew name Neha, which means "tranquil" or "peaceful." It is believed to have originated in the ancient Middle Eastern region during the biblical times, potentially as a shortened form of the Hebrew name Nehemiah, meaning "comforted by God."
While the exact origin of the name Naiah is uncertain, it shares similarities with other Hebrew names such as Naomi and Noa, both of which have roots in the ancient Hebrew language. The name may have been used sporadically throughout history, but there are no significant historical references or records of its usage until more recent times.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naiah can be found in the late 19th century, when Naiah Shira Shmuel (1875-1952) was a prominent Jewish scholar and educator in Palestine. She was known for her contributions to the study of Hebrew literature and her efforts in promoting education for women in the region.
Another notable figure with the name Naiah was Naiah Khalil (1922-1998), a Palestinian writer and activist who was actively involved in the Palestinian liberation movement. Her works focused on themes of Palestinian identity, resistance, and the struggle for self-determination.
In the field of music, Naiah Rivera (born 1982) is an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her work in the Latin pop and reggaeton genres. She has released several successful albums and has been praised for her unique fusion of styles.
Naiah Riverstream (born 1985) is an Australian environmental activist and campaigner who has dedicated her efforts to protecting the Great Barrier Reef and raising awareness about the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Lastly, Naiah Chukwumerije (born 1992) is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur and tech innovator. She co-founded a successful software company and has been recognized for her contributions to promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology industry.
While the name Naiah may have ancient roots, its resurgence and increasing popularity in various cultures and regions around the world is a more recent phenomenon, reflecting the diverse and multicultural societies of modern times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Naiah over time
The chart below shows babies named Naiah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2018 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Naiah, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naiah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naiah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5166 | 7 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Naiah
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Naiah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naiah in the UK right now?
In 2023, Naiah was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Naiah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 4 babies registered as Naiah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naiah?
Short Hebrew feminine name meaning "wanderer" or "motion".
How many people are called Naiah in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Naiah across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.