Lia
Say it: LEE-a
Girl3 letters2 syllables
#196
in Ireland (2025)
#199 with spellings combined
22
babies in 2025
#161
best rank (2021)
554
babies since 1972
Up 117
10-year rank change
Lia through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | #199 |
| 2024 | 10 | #368 |
| 2023 | 23 | #200 |
| 2022 | 30 | #168 |
| 2021 | 30 | #161 |
| 2020 | 20 | #222 |
| 2019 | 20 | #236 |
| 2018 | 15 | #296 |
| 2017 | 16 | #289 |
| 2016 | 19 | #247 |
| 2015 | 15 | #316 |
| 2014 | 18 | #274 |
| 2013 | 14 | #340 |
| 2012 | 16 | #318 |
| 2011 | 25 | #215 |
| 2010 | 20 | #267 |
| 2009 | 14 | #331 |
| 2008 | 20 | #257 |
| 2007 | 17 | #267 |
| 2006 | 16 | #260 |
| 2005 | 16 | #245 |
| 2004 | 17 | #222 |
| 2003 | 12 | #279 |
| 2002 | 12 | #278 |
| 2001 | 16 | #217 |
| 2000 | 15 | #227 |
| 1999 | 10 | #267 |
| 1998 | 4 | #426 |
| 1997 | 5 | #440 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 6 | #384 |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1992 | 5 | #416 |
| 1991 | 7 | #365 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 7 | #359 |
| 1987 | 3 | #488 |
| 1984 | 3 | #516 |
| 1982 | 3 | #523 |
| 1981 | 3 | #533 |
| 1978 | 5 | #428 |
| 1973 | 5 | #402 |
| 1972 | 4 | #428 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Lia mean?
Uncertain, often a form of Leah
A form of Leah or Lea, and also a short form of names ending in -lia.
Say it right
LEEa
Not:LY-a
The story of Lia
Lia has more than one root, so its meaning depends on which one a family has in mind. It can be a form of Leah, the wife of Jacob in the Bible, whose name is written Lia in the Latin Bible. It is also a short form of longer names that end in -lia, such as Julia, Cecilia, Amelia and Natalia. In Spanish it is spelled with an accent, Lía.
The meaning of Leah itself is not settled, so we have left the meaning of Lia open.
Lia first reached the CSO list in 1972. It has grown slowly, and its best year was 2021, with 30 girls and a place at number 161. The CSO counts Lia, Leah and Lea as separate names, and our figures add in a few girls registered as Lía. The name is much rarer in Northern Ireland, where its best rank was number 226, in 2005.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Lia
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Lia | 22 | 541 |
| Lía | under 3 | 13 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #226 (2005); 35 babies since 2001.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.