Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Ziya
GirlArabic, Turkish· “light, radiance”
- Meaning
- light, radiance
- Origin
- Arabic, Turkish
- Pronunciation
- ZEE-yuh
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,941
- US babies 2025
- 100
- Best rank
- #1,489 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2022
Meaning and origin of Ziya
Ziya is an Arabic and Turkish name that means “light, radiance”.
Ziya comes from the Arabic diya, meaning light, brightness or radiance, and it is used in Turkish, Persian, Urdu and Arabic-speaking cultures. In Turkey it is traditionally a boys' name, as in the writer Ziya Gökalp, but in South Asia and elsewhere it is often used for girls. The spelling Zia is also common. It is pronounced ZEE-yuh. The name is short and bright, with a clear, positive meaning that is easy to explain. It fits well with other names meaning light, such as Noor and Lucia, and it has a modern, global feel.
Popularity over time
Ziya first appears in US Social Security records in 1999. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,489 in 2022, the same year it reached its highest count of 147 babies. In 2025, 100 babies were named Ziya, and it ranked #1,941 nationally. That is 85% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #6,483 in 2000, #3,621 in 2010, and #1,941 in 2025. Of the 1,828 US girls named Ziya since records began, 42% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 741 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Caeli, Kapri, Aiza, Yelena, and Nila.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ziya ranked highest in Arizona, New Jersey, and Georgia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #1215 | 5 |
| New Jersey | #1353 | 5 |
| Georgia | #1355 | 7 |
| Texas | #1531 | 16 |
| California | #1947 | 11 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Ziya over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Ziya is usually pronounced ZEE-yuh, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with Z and ends in “-ya”.
Middle names for Ziya
A few middle names that flow with Ziya: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ziya
Similar names
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Lists that include Ziya
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ziya mean?
Ziya is an Arabic and Turkish name that means “light, radiance”.
What is the origin of the name Ziya?
Ziya has Arabic and Turkish roots. Ziya comes from the Arabic diya, meaning light, brightness or radiance, and it is used in Turkish, Persian, Urdu and Arabic-speaking cultures.
Is Ziya a popular name?
Not especially. Ziya ranked #1,941 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ziya a boy or girl name?
Ziya is mainly a girl's name. About 96% of US babies named Ziya over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Ziya?
Ziya is usually pronounced ZEE-yuh. 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