Girl · #5,657 in 2026

Naija

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 mi2). With a population of more than 242 million, it is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country.

Current Rank
#5,657
Peak Rank
#4,260 (2019)
Total Babies
456
5-Yr Trend
-10%
1992
First Year
2026
Last Year
2019
Peak Year
#4260
Peak Rank
456
Total Count
32
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Naija

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 mi2). With a population of more than 242 million, it is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The name Nigeria derives from the Niger River running through the country. This name was coined on 8 January 1897, by the British journalist Flora Shaw . The neighbouring Republic of Niger takes its name from the same river. The origin of the name Niger , which originally applied to only the middle reaches of the Niger River, is uncertain. The word is likely an alteration of the Tuareg name egerew n-iger ewen ("river of rivers") used by inhabitants along the middle reaches of the river around Timbuktu before 19th-century European colonialism . Before Flora Shaw suggested the name Nigeria , oth
Origin & history
Main articles: History of Nigeria and Timeline of Nigerian history

The Story of Naija

Naija first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1992, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 33 Naijas were born — ranking #4,260 that year. As of 2026, Naija ranks #5,657 for baby girls with 22 births, gradually falling (-10%). In total, more than 456 Naijas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Naija

Phonetically similar names — useful when Naija is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Naija

What does the name Naija mean?
Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 mi2). With a population of more than 242 million, it is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country.
How popular is Naija in 2026?
In 2026, Naija ranks #5,657 among girls' names in the U.S., with 22 babies given the name that year.
When was Naija most popular?
Naija reached its peak popularity in 2019, ranking #4,260 that year with 33 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Naija most popular?
Naija has historically been most popular in Florida, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Naija.
Is Naija a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Naija is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Naija?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Naija include Amylia, Zyanya, Anara. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Amylia
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Zyanya
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Anara
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Nayah
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Maimouna
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Ilhan
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Giabella
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Zunairah
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About the name Naija

Naija is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1992 and has accumulated 456 births in the dataset. Naija's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #4,260. Use the chart and map above to compare Naija's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.