Declining since 2009, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Marayah since 1993
Babies named Marayah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 163 |
| 2010s | 131 |
| 2020s | 54 |
Meaning & origin
Marayah is a modern phonetic respelling of Mariah, a name that gained traction in the 1990s. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1993 and reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking highest among newborn girls. Since 2009, its usage has been declining. With a current rank of 14,942 in 2024, it remains a distinctive choice, given to about 1 in 321,453 babies. Marayah fits a pattern of 'iyah' ending names popular in the early 2000s, similar to Aaliyah and Saniyah. Though no top states are recorded for its usage, the name reflects a broader trend of creative spelling adaptations.
Marayah is a modern respelling of Mariah, itself a variant of Maria. Maria derives from the Hebrew name Miryam, whose meaning is debated (possibly 'beloved' or 'bitter'). The spelling Marayah emerged in the late 20th century as a phonetic adaptation, likely influenced by the popularity of the singer Mariah Carey.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mara, Ria, Maya
Sibling names for Marayah
Names that share Marayah's style, for a brother or sister.
