Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Aniyah
GirlAmerican (modern coinage)· “modern coinage, possibly from Anya”
- Meaning
- modern coinage, possibly from Anya (origin disputed)
- Origin
- American (modern coinage)
- Pronunciation
- uh-NY-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #485
- US babies 2025
- 618
- Best rank
- #177 (2010)
- Peak year
- 2009
Meaning and origin of Aniyah
Aniyah is often said to mean “modern coinage, possibly from Anya”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to American (modern coinage) roots.
Aniyah is a modern American name with no single agreed origin. It is often seen as a creative variant of Anya, a Russian pet form of Anna, or as a newer form built on the sound of names like Aaliyah and Maliyah. Because it was shaped by sound rather than by one clear source, any meaning given for it should be treated as uncertain. Aniyah rose in the United States in the early twenty-first century as part of a broader fashion for melodic names ending in -iyah. It has a soft, flowing sound, and Ani or Niya can serve as nicknames.
Popularity over time
Aniyah first appears in US Social Security records in 1991. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 27 different years, starting in 1999. Its best national rank was #177 in 2010, and the most babies received it in 2009, when 1,825 were named Aniyah. In 2025, 618 babies were named Aniyah, and it ranked #485 nationally. That is 53% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #727 in 2000, #177 in 2010, and #485 in 2025. Of the 31,207 US girls named Aniyah since records began, 44% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 11,863 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alivia, Malia, Lila, Allie, and Addyson.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aniyah ranked highest in North Dakota, Mississippi, and New Mexico.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #198 | 5 |
| Mississippi | #245 | 11 |
| New Mexico | #308 | 5 |
| Alabama | #321 | 15 |
| Louisiana | #325 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Aniyah is usually pronounced uh-NY-uh, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ah”.
Middle names for Aniyah
A few middle names that flow with Aniyah: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aniyah
Similar names
Amiyah Girl
uh-MY-uh
“modern variant of Amaya or Amia” · American (modern coinage)
#620
Maliyah Girl
muh-LEE-uh
“variant of Malia, Hawaiian form of Mary” · American (modern coinage)
#626
Nylah Girl
NY-luh
“uncertain; modern name” · American (modern coinage)
#504
Zariah Girl
zuh-RY-uh
“uncertain; modern name” · American (modern coinage)
#450
Alayah Girl
uh-LAY-uh
“exalted” · Arabic
#412
Aleah Girl
uh-LEE-uh
“exalted” · Arabic
#965
Kaliyah Girl
kuh-LEE-uh
“modern blend of Ka- and Aaliyah” · American (modern coinage)
#392
Ariah Girl
AR-ee-uh
“modern variant of Aria” · American (modern coinage)
#636
Lylah Girl
LY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#585
Mylah Girl
MY-luh
“variant of Mila or Myla” · American (modern coinage)
#605
Aliah Girl
uh-LEE-uh
“variant of Aaliyah; exalted” · Arabic
#1,192
Naveah Girl
nuh-VAY-uh
“variant of Nevaeh, heaven spelled backward” · American (modern coinage)
#2,146
Lists that include Aniyah
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aniyah mean?
Aniyah is often said to mean “modern coinage, possibly from Anya”; the origin is uncertain, though it is usually linked to American (modern coinage) roots.
What is the origin of the name Aniyah?
Aniyah has modern American roots. Aniyah is a modern American name with no single agreed origin.
Is Aniyah a popular name?
Yes. Aniyah ranked #485 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Aniyah a boy or girl name?
Aniyah is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Aniyah?
Aniyah is usually pronounced uh-NY-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings