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Niah

Girl name · 17 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Niah: 17 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2009.

Niah is a modern variant of the Welsh name Nia, itself a short form of the Irish Niamh, meaning “bright” or “radiant.” While not as widely recorded as its root forms, this graceful spelling offers a fresh twist on a timeless Celtic favourite. Among notable bearers, Welsh actress Nia Roberts has brought the name to stage and screen, while Nia Long is a celebrated American actress of Guyanese descent. There is no major place directly linked to Niah, though the Niah Caves in Malaysia share the same spelling but derive from a different linguistic root. As a name, Niah sits alongside other streamlined variations like Nya and Neah, giving expectant parents a light, lyrical choice that retains its luminous meaning.

Girl 5 of 52 years

Peak year
20094 babies
Latest (2021)
#7923 babies
Total births
17since 2009
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2009 · 4
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).