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Home › Baby Names Directory › Lia

Lia

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-uh /ˈliː.ə/High

Meaning: Weary; from Hebrew Leah; also used as a short form of names like Julia, Amelia, or CorneliaHigh

In 30 seconds: A soft, minimal name that stands alone or as a short form of Leah, Amelia, Julia, and many others. Its two syllables and open vowel ending give it a musical, international elegance.
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Origin HighHebrew, Italian
MeaningWeary; from Hebrew Leah; also used as a short form of names like Julia, Amelia, or Cornelia
U.S. rank (2025)#200 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,526 girls (0.09% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 28,492

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419332025

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

Lia can be understood as a standalone name or as a short form of multiple longer names: it is used in Italian as an independent form with roots in Hebrew Leah (meaning 'weary' or possibly 'gazelle'), and it also serves as a short form of names ending in -lia, such as Amelia, Julia, Cornelia, and Ophelia. The Hebrew name Leah was borne by the first wife of the patriarch Jacob in the Bible.

Lia has been used as an independent name in Italy and Portugal for generations. In the United States it has risen in the 21st century as parents embrace short, vowel-ending feminine names. It has entered the top 200 U.S. girls' names and is appreciated for its simplicity and international feel.

Did you know? Lia is independently popular as a given name in Italy, Portugal, and several other European countries — not just as a nickname but as a full, standalone name in its own right.

Variations

LeahLeaLeiaMia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Lia Thomas (1999-)
    American competitive swimmer
  • ★Lia (1996-)
    South Korean singer and member of the K-pop group ITZY

If you like Lia…

Mia— similarly short, vowel-ending international girls' name
Leah— the Hebrew biblical name from which Lia descends
Leia— same sound family, carries a Star Wars pop-culture edge
Zia— another Italian name
Eva— a similarly popular pick

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lia mean?

Lia derives from Hebrew Leah, meaning 'weary,' and is also used as a short form of longer -lia names like Amelia and Julia.

How do you pronounce Lia?

Lia is pronounced LEE-uh (/ˈliː.ə/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Lia a boy or girl name?

Lia is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Lia?

Lia has been climbing the U.S. charts in the 2010s and 2020s, now in the top 200 girls' names.

💬 Ask Nia