Holding steady.
Popularity of Miata since 1989
Babies named Miata per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 23 |
| 1990s | 152 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Miata is a rare modern name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1989, the same year the Mazda MX-5 Miata sports car was introduced. Its peak year came quickly in 1991, when it saw its highest recorded usage, though it never entered the top 1,000. Since then, its trajectory has been stable but very low, with no states recording more than a handful of births. The name likely arose as a creative respelling of Mia, adding the popular suffix -ata. While its exact inspiration remains speculative, the temporal link to the car is hard to ignore. For parents seeking a unique, feminine-sounding name with a modern flair, Miata offers a novel choice without historical baggage.
Miata first appeared in the United States in the late 1980s, coinciding with the release of the Mazda MX-5 Miata sports car in 1989. It is likely a respelling or variant of Mia, combined with the fashionable -ata suffix seen in names like Donata. The name has no long historical or linguistic roots and is considered a modern invention.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mia, Mimi
Sibling names for Miata
Names that share Miata's style, for a brother or sister.
