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Home › Baby Names Directory › Celaya

Celaya

♀ Girl

Pronounced suh-LY-uh /səˈlaɪ.ə/Medium

Meaning: From the Basque surname Zelaia (Spanish Celaya), built on zelai, 'field; meadow' — and the name of a city in Guanajuato, Mexico. As a given name it reads as the surname and place, which we note. Pronunciations vary between 'suh-LY-uh' and 'seh-LAH-yah.'Low

In 30 seconds: A Spanish and Basque surname and Mexican city; the Basque root zelai means 'field; meadow' (said 'suh-LY-uh').
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Origin LowSpanish, Basque
MeaningFrom the Basque surname Zelaia (Spanish Celaya), built on zelai, 'field; meadow' — and the name of a city in Guanajuato, Mexico. As a given name it reads as the surname and place, which we note. Pronunciations vary between 'suh-LY-uh' and 'seh-LAH-yah.'
U.S. rank (2024)#13776 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 27

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202420122024

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

Celaya is a Spanish spelling of the Basque surname Zelaia, from zelai, 'field; meadow.' It also names a city in Guanajuato, Mexico. As a given name it is very rare and reads as a surname or place, which we note; families differ on how to say it. Rolling and warm (said 'suh-LY-uh').

It appears very rarely in U.S. data. Rare, place-rooted, and Spanish-flavored.

Did you know? Behind Celaya stands the Basque zelai, 'meadow' — and a busy Mexican city in Guanajuato that carries the name today (said 'suh-LY-uh').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Celaya — Basque Zelaia from zelai 'meadow'; Mexican city

Variations

ZelayaZelaiaSelaya

Nicknames

CelyLaya

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Celaya…

Zelaya— the Basque spelling of the same name
Amaya— a like Basque-rooted -aya name
Selena— a like soft Spanish Sel- pick
Anaya— a like flowing -aya choice

Explore names like Celaya

By themespanishsurnamebasqueplace

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Celaya mean?

Celaya comes from the Basque Zelaia, from zelai — 'field; meadow.' It is also a Mexican city.

How do you pronounce Celaya?

It's said suh-LY-uh /səˈlaɪ.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the middle. In Spanish it is closer to 'seh-LAH-yah.'

Is Celaya a boy or girl name?

Celaya is used here as a girl's name; it is chiefly a surname and place name.

How popular is Celaya?

Celaya is very rare as a given name in the U.S.

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