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Home › Baby Names Directory › Naia

Naia

♀ Girl

Pronounced NAEE-a /ˈnai̯.a/Medium

Meaning: Wave, sea foamMedium

In 30 seconds: Naia is a Basque name meaning 'wave, sea foam', light and oceanic.
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Origin MediumBasque
MeaningWave, sea foam
U.S. rank (2025)#1585 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births133 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,224

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319822025

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

Naia comes from Basque with the meaning 'wave, sea foam'. It is used as a girl's given name in the Basque Country and more broadly in Spain, valued for its sea imagery and simple shape. The accented and apostrophe forms Naïa, Naiá and Nai'a reflect different regional spellings.

Two open vowels around a single soft consonant give it a breezy, weightless sound that matches its watery meaning.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Naia is 'wave, sea foam', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Naia — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Nai'aNaïaNaiá

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Naia…

Maia— Shares Naia's airy two-vowel shape and soft ending
Kaia— A similarly light, ocean-evoking girl's name with the same -aia sound
Elaia— a fellow Basque choice
Xavia— shares Naia's Basque roots
Maite— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Naia

By themebasque
By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Naia mean?

Naia is usually explained as meaning 'wave, sea foam' and is most often linked with Basque tradition.

How do you pronounce Naia?

It's commonly said NAEE-a /ˈnai̯.a/.

Is Naia a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Naia?

In 2024, Naia ranked #1855 in the U.S. for girls, with 108 births recorded.

💬 Ask Nia