Hayah

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAH-yah /ˈha.ja/Medium

Meaning: From Arabic hayah, 'life', and closely tied to Hebrew chayah, 'life, living'. A second Arabic reading connects it to haya, 'modesty, bashful dignity', a valued quality in Islamic tradition. Both readings are current, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: Hayah means 'life' in Arabic and Hebrew; a second Arabic reading gives 'modesty, dignity' (said 'HAH-yah').

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowArabic, Hebrew

MeaningFrom Arabic hayah, 'life', and closely tied to Hebrew chayah, 'life, living'. A second Arabic reading connects it to haya, 'modesty, bashful dignity', a valued quality in Islamic tradition. Both readings are current, which we note.

U.S. rank (2024)#14048 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 45

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

Hayah draws on Arabic hayah, 'life', and on the Hebrew chayah of the same sense — the root behind Chava and Eve. A separate but similar Arabic word, haya, means 'modesty, dignified restraint'. Families use the name for both meanings, and we note both honestly (said 'HAH-yah').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records. Rare, warm, and rooted.

Did you know? Hayah sits on one of the oldest words in the Semitic languages: hayah, chayah — 'life'. A closely related Arabic word gives a second reading, 'modesty', which we note (said 'HAH-yah').

Overall data confidence 48%

References — Hayah — Arabic hayah 'life'; Hebrew chayah; haya 'modesty' reading noted

Variations

HayaHayaaChaya

Nicknames

HayaYaya

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Hayah…

Haya— the simpler spelling of the same name

Chaya— the Hebrew name of the same 'life' root

Maya— a like soft two-beat name

Leila— another warm Arabic-rooted pick

Explore names like Hayah

By themehebrew arabic heritage soft

By meaningLife

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hayah mean?

Hayah means 'life' in Arabic and Hebrew; a second Arabic reading gives 'modesty, dignity'. We note both.

How do you pronounce Hayah?

It's said HAH-yah /ˈha.ja/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hayah an Arabic or Hebrew name?

Both languages share the root. It is used in Arabic and Hebrew naming alike.

How popular is Hayah?

Hayah is rare in the U.S.; the Haya spelling is somewhat more common.