Niah is a feminine given name pronounced NYE-uh that has charted a steady course through American birth records since the early 1980s. While its precise etymology remains somewhat elusive, Niah is frequently linked to the Welsh name Nia, meaning “brightness,” and to the Swahili word for “purpose,” all the while echoing the lyrical vowel patterns of Persian names such as Liyana or Darya. In recent years it has hovered around the 800–900 popularity rank—neither dominating the charts nor vanishing into obscurity, but occupying a no-man’s-land of quiet distinction. From a Persian-inflected perspective, the “-ia” ending suggests flowing water or a gentle breeze, lending the name an understated elegance that blends intellectual poise with a softly spoken promise of potential.