Nyah
Nyah is a girl's name of African origin.
Meaning
Purpose or resolve; intent.
Origin and history
Nyah is a feminine name of Swahili origin, closely related to the name Nia, meaning purpose or resolve. It gained popularity in the United States during the late 1990s and 2000s, offering a contemporary, phonetic variation of a traditional East African concept.
Popularity in the United States
5,460 babies in the United States have been named Nyah since 1880. It ranks #2331 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1492.
States where it is most popular
- CA (17 %)
- TX (10.9 %)
- NY (10.8 %)
- FL (9.5 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 44 |
| 1990-2000 | 248 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,868 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,688 |
| 2020-2029 | 612 |
Fun facts
- Nyah is derived from the Swahili word 'nia', which translates to purpose and is one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
- The spelling Nyah emerged as a popular alternative to Nia in the United States starting in the late 1990s.