Amaya

♀ Girl

Pronounced ah-MY-uh /əˈmaɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Night rain — from Japanese ama (rain, heaven) + ya (arrow, valley, or night)Medium

In 30 seconds: A cross-cultural beauty, Amaya has roots in both Japanese (night rain) and Basque (mother city), giving it a lyrical mystery that resonates across cultures. It has risen into the U.S. top 200 girls' names.

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Origin MediumJapanese, Spanish, Basque

MeaningNight rain — from Japanese ama (rain, heaven) + ya (arrow, valley, or night)

U.S. rank (2025)#180 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births1,723 girls (0.11% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 43,505

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Amaya (also spelled Amaia) is a Basque place-name of ancient origin, referring to an old fortified city in the province of Burgos, Spain. In Basque the place-name may relate to a word meaning 'mother' or 'end.' Separately, Amaya in Japanese can be read as 'night rain' from ama (heaven/rain) and ya (night). The two etymologies are coincidental but both lend the name poetry.

Amaya began appearing in U.S. birth records in significant numbers in the 1990s and grew strongly through the 2000s and 2010s. It entered the top 200 girls' names and has continued to climb, appealing to a wide range of families including Hispanic, Japanese-American, and multicultural families. It sits comfortably alongside names like Maya, Amara, and Alaya.

Did you know? Amaya is one of the rare names claimed independently by multiple unrelated cultures: in Japan it suggests 'night rain,' in the Basque language it refers to a historic fortified city in Castile, and in Arabic amāya carries its own poetic resonance.

Variations

AmaiaAmayah

Nicknames

MayaAmy

Famous Bearers

★Amaya Espinal (1999-)
American reality TV personality from Love Island USA

If you like Amaya…

Maya— shares Amaya's core sound and cross-cultural lyrical quality

Amara— three-syllable girls' name with the same flowing multicultural appeal

Mireya— shares Amaya's Spanish roots

Adaya— a similarly popular pick

Analaya— another Spanish name

Explore names like Amaya

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Amaya mean?

Amaya has multiple cultural roots: in Japanese it can mean 'night rain,' and in Basque it refers to an ancient fortified city; both lend the name poetry.

How do you pronounce Amaya?

Amaya is pronounced ah-MY-uh /əˈmaɪ.ə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Amaya a boy or girl name?

Amaya is used as a girls' name in the United States.

How popular is Amaya?

Amaya has entered the U.S. top 200 girls' names and continues to grow, beloved by families across multiple cultural backgrounds.