Naja - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Naja

Naja is a feminine given name with roots in Arabic—derived from نَجَاء (naǧāʾ), meaning “success” or “attainment”—and is likewise attested in Swahili and Scandinavian contexts under subtly different phonetic regimes. In English it is rendered /ˈnɑdʒɑ/, closely matching the Arabic /naːdʒa/, while Swahili speakers use /naːja/ and Danish/Norwegian usage shifts it to /na.ja/. In the United States, Naja first appeared in Social Security records in the mid-1960s and has since maintained a position near the lower quartile of the top 1,000 girls’ names, most recently ranking 951st in 2023—a pattern that reflects steady but uncommon adoption. Notably, Naja also serves as the genus name for cobras in zoological taxonomy, a technical aside that rarely detracts from its onomastic appeal. The name’s consistent cross-linguistic profile and precise phonemic structure underscore its capacity for international versatility and analytical clarity.