Daya

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAH-yah /ˈdɑ.jɑ/High

Meaning: Compassion, mercy, kindness; from Sanskrit daya — also a Hebrew name for a bird of prey (the kite)High

In 30 seconds: Compassion itself, in two soft syllables: Daya is Sanskrit for mercy and kindness — a core virtue of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain thought. In Hebrew it names a soaring bird. Tender or winged, always gentle.

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Origin MediumSanskrit, Hebrew

MeaningCompassion, mercy, kindness; from Sanskrit daya — also a Hebrew name for a bird of prey (the kite)

U.S. rank (2025)#3535 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births43 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2018

Total births (all-time)≈ 926

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

Daya comes from Sanskrit daya, 'compassion, mercy, kindness' — a foundational virtue across Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh traditions. Independently, Hebrew daya names a bird of prey (the kite). Singer-songwriter Daya gave the name pop visibility in the 2010s.

In the U.S. it appears across Indian, Jewish, and pop-culture-drawn families. Rare, merciful at the root, and easy on every tongue.

Did you know? Daya is one of the central virtues in Indian philosophy — compassion for all living beings — invoked in prayers and woven into the names of the Sikh Gurus' devoted followers.

Overall data confidence 82%

Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary — daya — root meaning

Variations

DayahDaia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Daya (2000-)
American singer and songwriter, stage name of Grace Tandon

If you like Daya…

Maya— the vowel-twin loved across cultures

Kaya— a fellow soft two-syllable favorite

Naya— the companion vowel-rich modern name

Aarya— lands in the same popularity range

Riya— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Daya

By themehebrew sanskrit virtue

By meaningBird Gentle / Kind

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Daya mean?

Daya is Sanskrit for 'compassion, mercy, kindness'; in Hebrew it also names a bird of prey.

How do you pronounce Daya?

It's said DAH-yah /ˈdɑ.jɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Daya a boy or girl name?

Daya is a girl's name.

How popular is Daya?

Daya is a rare name in the U.S.