Declining since 2015, #2,933 for girls today.
Popularity of Layah since 1995
Babies named Layah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 37 |
| 2000s | 242 |
| 2010s | 726 |
| 2020s | 360 |
Meaning & origin
Layah is a modern name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1995, part of a wave of inventive respellings ending in 'ah.' By 2025, it ranked 2,933, with 1 in 28,198 girls receiving the name. It reached its highest popularity in 2016, before beginning a decline that continued through the 2010s. The name is most common in California and Florida, reflecting a trend of similar modern coinages in those states. Though often linked to Leah, its etymology remains uncertain, and it is best understood as a contemporary creative formation rather than a name with deep historical roots.
The name Layah is a modern variant likely influenced by the Hebrew name Leah (meaning 'weary' or 'cow') or a respelling of names like Layla or Aaliyah. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1995, during a period of creative respellings and -ah suffix popularity. There is no established etymology independent of its likely derivation from existing names.
Where Layah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Layah” around the world
Where Layah lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lay, Laya
Sibling names for Layah
Names that share Layah's style, for a brother or sister.
