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At a Glance: Name: Lia – Meaning: form of Leah (Hebrew root disputed, traditionally glossed 'weary'); or, in Sicily, short for Ilìa/Elijah ('my God is Yahweh') – Origin: Italian, variant of Leah (Hebrew); also Sicilian short form of Ilìa (Elijah) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: LEE-ah
Lia is a girl's name, pronounced LEE-ah, with a classic feel. It's an Italian variant of Leah, a Hebrew name whose root is disputed but traditionally glossed as 'weary'; in Sicily, Lia is also used as a short form of Ilìa, or Elijah. You may come across the claim that Lia means 'bearer of good news' — that isn't supported by any etymology, so its documented ties are to Leah and Ilìa instead.
Meaning & Origin of Lia
Meaning: Form of leah (hebrew root disputed, traditionally glossed 'weary'); or, in sicily, short for ilìa/elijah ('my god is yahweh').
Origin: Italian, variant of Leah (Hebrew); also Sicilian short form of Ilìa (Elijah).
A common claim: Lia means 'bearer of good news' Actually: Lia is primarily a form of Leah (Hebrew root disputed, traditionally glossed 'weary'), or, in Sicily, short for Ilìa/Elijah ('my God is Yahweh').
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Lia
Phonetic: LEE-ah IPA: /ˈliːə/
Popularity of Lia
Social Security data going back to 1933 shows Lia reaching its highest rank on record in 2024, landing at #187 with 1,605 babies given the name that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1933–2024.
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Free printable nursery art for Lia, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
FAQ
What does the name Lia mean?
Form of leah (hebrew root disputed, traditionally glossed ‘weary’); or, in sicily, short for ilìa/elijah (‘my god is yahweh’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Lia)
How do you pronounce Lia?
Lia is pronounced LEE-ah (IPA: /ˈliːə/).
Is Lia a popular name right now?
Lia is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #187 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1933–2024.)
📊 How popular is Lia? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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