A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Loa since 1894
Babies named Loa per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Loa's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 18 |
| 1900s | 15 |
| 1910s | 97 |
| 1920s | 172 |
| 1930s | 164 |
| 1940s | 120 |
| 1950s | 84 |
| 1960s | 24 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 13 |
| 2010s | 91 |
| 2020s | 106 |
Meaning & origin
Loa is an uncommon name with a mysterious origin. First recorded in the United States in 1894, it peaked in that same year and then fell out of regular use. Since 2004, however, it has been slowly rising again. In 2025, it ranked 6,546th nationally, with roughly 1 in 94,545 babies receiving the name. The name is typically given to girls and has no strong association with any particular region or state. Its appeal may lie in its simple, two-syllable sound and its resemblance to other short vowel-ended names that are currently fashionable.
The name Loa is of uncertain origin. It may have arisen as a diminutive or short form of longer names such as Louisa or Eloise, common in English-speaking countries. Alternatively, it could be derived from the Hawaiian word 'loa' meaning 'long' or as a reference to lava (Pele's tears), though this connection is speculative. The name saw rare use in the late 19th century, particularly in the United States, but has never been common.
Sibling names for Loa
Names that share Loa's style, for a brother or sister.
