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Liyana

♀ Girl

Pronounced lee-YAH-nuh /li.ˈjɑ.nə/Medium

Meaning: Softness, tenderness, gentlenessMedium

In 30 seconds: Liyana is a Malay girl's name meaning 'softness', 'tenderness', or 'gentleness'.

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Origin MediumMalay, Arabic

MeaningSoftness, tenderness, gentleness

U.S. rank (2024)#1484 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births147 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,449

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

The name comes from Malay and means softness, tenderness, or gentleness. It carries a calm, gentle sense in keeping with that meaning. It is used as a given name within Malay-speaking communities.

Its flowing 'li-YA-na' sound matches the soft idea at its heart, giving it an easy, gentle rhythm.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Liyana is 'soft, delicate', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Liyana — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Liyana…

Liana— Shares Liyana's flowing sound with a similar soft feel.

Aliyana— Echoes the same gentle -yana ending.

Layla— Another softly-sounding girl's name used in similar communities.

Layana— shares the -na ending

Layanna— shares the -na ending

Explore names like Liyana

By thememalay

By meaningGentle / Kind

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Liyana mean?

Liyana is usually explained as meaning 'soft, delicate' and is most often linked with Malay tradition.

How do you pronounce Liyana?

It's commonly said lee-YAH-nuh /li.ˈjɑ.nə/.

Is Liyana a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Liyana is used as a girl name.

How popular is Liyana?

In 2024, Liyana ranked #1484 in the U.S. for girls, with 147 births recorded.