Laniah is a unique and distinctive female given name of American origin. It was created by the author and fantasy artist Andrew Loomis in his 1978 book "Characters of Steel." In the book, Laniah is a character from a fictional world called "The Land of Steel."
The name Laniah does not have a specific meaning or etymology rooted in any known language. Instead, it was created by Loomis as part of his fantasy series and has since gained some popularity as an independent name choice.
In terms of history, the name Laniah is relatively new compared to many other names. It only began appearing on birth records in the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since then, its usage has remained quite rare, making it a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for an uncommon name for their daughter.
Overall, Laniah is a fascinating example of a modern, made-up name that has managed to establish itself as a valid option in the realm of American baby names. Its association with Andrew Loomis's fantasy series adds an intriguing layer of storytelling to this unique moniker.
The name Laniah has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. With only five births recorded in 1995, it started out as quite an uncommon name. However, its popularity began to grow steadily over time.
In just three years, from 1998 to 2000, the number of babies named Laniah tripled, reaching a total of 16 births in the year 2000. The trend continued, with the highest peak occurring in 2008 when there were 72 births that year.
Despite this high point, the popularity of the name Laniah began to decline thereafter. By 2015, the number of babies named Laniah had decreased by more than half from its peak, with only 31 births recorded that year.
The last decade has seen a further decrease in the popularity of the name Laniah. From 2016 onwards, the number of babies named Laniah has been consistently low, with fewer than 25 births each year, including just five births in both 2023 and the most recent year for which data is available, 2022.
In total, over the course of nearly three decades, from 1995 to 2023, there have been 817 babies named Laniah born in the United States. While the name's popularity has fluctuated significantly over this period, it remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents seeking something less common.