Given name & surname · also Welsh
Nia
“a lustrous woman”·“one with a purpose”
Nia is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a lustrous woman” and “one with a purpose”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a lustrous woman” and “one with a purpose”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Welsh and African naming traditions.
How it developed
In English usage, Nia is a short form of Antonia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1951. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 25,432
- 10 boys · 25,422 girls
- Most popular year
- 2000
- 1,033 babies
- 2025
- 403
- #702 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 403 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 702 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 29.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,033 in 2000. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (54). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 21,920 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nia’s family of names
In English usage, Nia is a short form of Antonia. Nia has a related form in Nya. Nia has a related form in Niya.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Nia
- Nia LongAmerican actress (born 1970)
- Nia VardalosCanadian-born American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer of Greek descentborn 1962
- Nia DaCostaAmerican director and screenwriterborn 1989
- Nia AliAmerican athletics competitorborn 1988
- Nia JaxAustralian-American professional wrestlerborn 1984
- Nia SharmaIndian television actressborn 1990
- Nia PeeplesAmerican singer, actress, and television hostborn 1961
- Nia SanchezAmerican beauty pageant titleholder (born 1990)
- Nia AbdallahAmerican taekwondo practitionerborn 1984
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Naima
“a contented woman” · “one who brings comfort and peace”
>99% girls
Asha
“wish” · “desire”
1% boys · 99% girls
McKenzie
In English use, McKenzie has a related form in Mackenzie. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
1% boys · 99% girls
McKenna
“the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Kira
“little dark-haired one”
>99% girls
Keira
“little dark-haired one” · “having dark features; the little dark one”
>99% girls
Kiana
“from an ancient family” · “of an ancient family”
>99% girls
Brianna
“from the high hill; one who ascends”
>99% girls