NameCensus.

UK name, mostly girls

Niah

Of Native American origin meaning "free spirit" or "free woman".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Niah is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Niah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1491, with 21 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 35 births.

This profile covers 572 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 586 living people in the UK are called Niah. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Niah ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 21 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 35 girls were registered as Niah.
  • Niah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #792 in 2021.
  • About 586 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 97.4% of Niah registrations are for girls.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1491

2024

Births in 2024

21

Latest year

Peak year

2014

35 births

Estimated living

586

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Niah

In England and Wales birth records, Niah has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 2.6% of registrations are for boys and 97.4% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

97% girls
Boys15 (2.6%)Girls572 (97.4%)

Niah registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,987 in 2012
  • 4 boys registered in 2012
  • Peak: 2007 (4 births)

Niah registered for girls

  • Ranked #1,491 in 2024
  • 21 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2014 (35 births)

Meaning

What does Niah mean?

The name Niah finds its origins in the Arabic language, deriving from the word "Nayya," which translates to "intention" or "purpose." This ancient name has its roots in Islamic culture and can be traced back to the 7th century.

During the early days of Islam, the name Niah was bestowed upon individuals who displayed a strong sense of purpose and determination in their actions. It was believed that those who bore this name were destined for greatness and were guided by their unwavering intentions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niah can be found in the writings of the renowned Islamic scholar and philosopher, Al-Ghazali, who lived during the 11th century. In his work, "The Revival of the Religious Sciences," he made reference to a scholar named Niah ibn Khalid, renowned for his profound knowledge and wisdom.

Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Niah. One such individual was Niah al-Andalusi, a 12th-century scholar and mathematician from the Iberian Peninsula, who made significant contributions to the field of algebra and geometry.

In the 14th century, Niah al-Qurashi was a prominent Islamic scholar and jurist from Damascus, renowned for his expertise in Islamic law and his extensive written works.

During the 16th century, Niah ibn Abi Bakr was a celebrated poet and writer from the Ottoman Empire, whose poetry was widely acclaimed for its eloquence and depth of emotion.

Another notable figure was Niah al-Misri, an 18th-century Egyptian scholar and historian, whose comprehensive records of the social and cultural aspects of his time provide invaluable insights into the lives of the people during that era.

Niah ibn Abdallah, born in 1802, was a respected Islamic scholar and theologian from Morocco, known for his contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and his efforts in promoting education among the people.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Niah, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Niah over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Niah in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Niah, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 21 births in 2024, compared with 35 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
09182635199720102024

Decades

Niah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niah 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 #1571 101 5
2010s #1198 284 10
2000s #1403 169 10
1990s #2494 18 3

Geography

Where Niah is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Niah. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Niah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #792 in 2021.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Niah in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#792 in 2021

5 years of NRS records, 17 total registered

Related

Names similar to Niah

FAQ

Niah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Niah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Niah was ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales, with 21 births registered.

When was Niah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 35 babies registered as Niah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Niah?

Of Native American origin meaning "free spirit" or "free woman".

How many people are called Niah in the UK?

A total of 572 babies have been registered as Niah across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 17 more in Scotland.

Where is Niah most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Niah ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #792 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.