Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Lia
GirlItalian, Hebrew· “short form of names like Amelia”
- Meaning
- short form of names like Amelia
- Origin
- Italian, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- LEE-uh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #200
- US babies 2025
- 1,526
- Best rank
- #188 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Lia
Lia is an Italian and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “short form of names like Amelia”.
Lia is a short form of names ending in -lia, such as Amelia, Julia, Cecilia and Rosalia, and it is used on its own in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. In Italian it is also the form of Leah, the biblical wife of Jacob, whose Hebrew name is often explained as weary or linked to a word for wild cow. Lia is short, light and international, and it pairs easily with longer middle names. It fits with other brief, vowel-rich names such as Mia and Ava. The spelling Leah is the more familiar English form of the biblical name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Leah.
Popularity over time
Lia first appears in US Social Security records in 1933. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 39 different years, starting in 1966. Its best national rank was #188 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,610 babies. In 2025, 1,526 babies were named Lia, and it ranked #200 nationally. That is 53% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #2,979 in 1950, #1,061 in 1980, #764 in 2000, #356 in 2010, and #200 in 2025. Of the 28,501 US girls named Lia since records began, 34% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 7,937 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alora, Haven, Myla, Celeste, and Kaylani.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lia ranked highest in New Jersey, New Mexico, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #103 | 71 |
| New Mexico | #106 | 13 |
| California | #118 | 252 |
| Florida | #123 | 145 |
| Texas | #134 | 235 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lia is usually pronounced LEE-uh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with L and ends in “-ia”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Leah.
Middle names for Lia
A few middle names that flow with Lia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lia
Similar names
Elia Girl
eh-LEE-uh
“my God is Yahweh” · Italian
#970
Julia Girl
JOOL-yuh
“uncertain; Roman family name” · Latin
#131
Malia Girl
muh-LEE-uh
“Hawaiian form of Mary” · Hawaiian
#349
Talia Girl
TAHL-yuh
“dew of God” · Hebrew
#265
Gia Girl
JEE-uh
“God is gracious” · Italian
#287
Leia Girl
LAY-uh
“uncertain; popularized by Star Wars” · American (modern coinage)
#297
Alia Girl
AH-lee-uh
“exalted, lofty” · Arabic
#587
Mia Girl
MEE-uh
“short form of Maria; Italian for mine” · Scandinavian
#6
Lucia Girl
loo-SEE-uh
“light” · Latin
#83
Sarai Girl
suh-RY
“my princess” · Hebrew
#425
Hanna Girl
HA-nuh
“grace, favor” · Hebrew
#512
Noa Girl
NOH-uh
“movement, motion” · Hebrew
#226
Lists that include Lia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lia mean?
Lia is an Italian and Hebrew name that is usually said to mean “short form of names like Amelia”.
What is the origin of the name Lia?
Lia has Italian and Hebrew roots. Lia is a short form of names ending in -lia, such as Amelia, Julia, Cecilia and Rosalia, and it is used on its own in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.
Is Lia a popular name?
Yes. Lia ranked #200 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Lia a boy or girl name?
Lia is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lia?
Lia is usually pronounced LEE-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