Holding steady, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Iya since 1991
Babies named Iya per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Iya's real moment was 2023.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 26 |
| 2000s | 129 |
| 2010s | 151 |
| 2020s | 106 |
Meaning & origin
Iya is a rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1991 and consistently given to a small number of girls each year. In 2025, it ranked 7491st, with approximately 1 in every 114,805 newborn girls receiving the name. Its peak year to date was 2023, suggesting a slight uptick but still very low usage. The name is likely a Russian diminutive of Sofia or Maria, giving it a soft, melodic sound that fits with other Slavic short forms like Anya or Mila. While its origins are uncertain, Iya has a gentle, exotic appeal and remains uncommon, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a name that is simple yet not widely used.
Iya is often considered a short form of Russian names like Sofia (meaning 'wisdom') or Maria (of debated Hebrew origin). It may also be a variant of the name Iya, a Yoruba name meaning 'mother' in Nigeria, but in the context of U.S. usage, the Slavic derivation is more plausible. The name has seen modest modern use in the United States since the early 1990s.
Sibling names for Iya
Names that share Iya's style, for a brother or sister.
