Naliya
A feminine name derived from Hindi meaning "a lotus flower".
Name Census estimates that about 172 living Americans carry the first name Naliya. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Naliya today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naliya births was 2011 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naliya. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
172
~ 1 in 1,992,758 Americans
Peak year
2011
16 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,803
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Naliya: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naliya from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 93 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Naliya remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naliya by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Naliya during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Naliya
The name Naliya is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was widely spoken in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "nali," which means "stem" or "stalk," and is often associated with the lotus flower, a revered symbol in Hindu culture.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Naliya can be found in ancient Hindu texts, particularly in the Puranas, which are ancient Hindu scriptures that contain a vast collection of stories, legends, and teachings. In these texts, Naliya is often depicted as a beautiful and virtuous woman, renowned for her grace and purity.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Naliya. One such figure was Naliya Devi, a 14th-century Hindu mystic and poet from the Indian state of Rajasthan. Her poetic compositions, which were deeply spiritual and devotional, have been widely studied and celebrated by scholars and devotees alike.
Another prominent Naliya was Naliya Bai, a 16th-century Indian classical dancer and courtesan from the Mughal Empire. She was renowned for her exceptional skills in the art of Kathak dance, and her performances were highly sought after by the Mughal nobility.
In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the legacy of Naliya Ghose, an Indian writer and poet from the 19th century. Ghose's works, which explored themes of love, loss, and spirituality, were widely acclaimed and have left an indelible mark on the literary landscape of India.
Moving into more recent times, Naliya Ginwala was a prominent Indian social activist and philanthropist who dedicated her life to empowering women and promoting education. Born in 1925, Ginwala's tireless efforts towards uplifting marginalized communities earned her numerous accolades and recognition.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning Naliya Vasudev, a renowned Indian classical vocalist and exponent of the Khayal genre of Hindustani classical music. Born in 1948, Vasudev's mesmerizing renditions and deep understanding of the nuances of Indian classical music have earned her a revered place among the musical greats of the modern era.
People
Naliya + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naliya as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naliya: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naliya?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 172 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naliya going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,992,758 US residents.
Is Naliya a common name?
We classify Naliya as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 174 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naliya most popular?
The single biggest year for Naliya was 2011, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naliya is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Naliya in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Naliya a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naliya in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Naliya still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Naliya in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Naliya can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Naliya?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.