Given name & surname
Nya
“a tenacious woman”
Nya is used as a given name and a surname. One African interpretation is “a tenacious woman.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “a tenacious woman.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1970. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,006
- 0 boys · 6,006 girls
- Most popular year
- 2001
- 408 babies
- 2025
- 62
- #2,767 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −25%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 62 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,767 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 408 in 2001. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,258 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.
Nya’s family of names
Nya has a related form in Nia. Nya has a related form in Nyah.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Nya, 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
Nyala
“resembling an antelope”
>99% girls
Maha
“a woman with beautiful eyes”
>99% girls
Miniya
“she is expected to do great things”
>99% girls
Binta
“with God”
>99% girls
Makena
“one who is filled with happiness” · “man of abundance”
>99% girls
Ashanti
“from a tribe in West Africa”
>99% girls
Nasha
“born during the season of raln”
>99% girls