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Bahia

Girl name · Arabic

Meaningradiant · Arabic

Bahia is an Arabic girl name meaning “radiant”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • GenerationBahia peaked in 1974, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Bahia you'd meet today is about 51 years old.
  • HistoryBahia first shows up in US birth records in 1974, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 51 years since.
Baby lying on a pink blanket
hello, little Bahia

US births per million girls, 1974–2025

02.55197420002020

Similar names

Girl name: SophiaGirl name: CynthiaUnisex name: ShiaGirl name: NahiaGirl name: CinthiaGirl name: Delphia
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Bahia

Bahia is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “radiant”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

Other spellings of Bahia

Girl name: Bahiya

More Arabic girl names

Questions about the name Bahia

What does the name Bahia mean?

Bahia means “radiant” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Phoebe (“bright, radiant”), Zahra (“radiant, bright”), Neve (“bright, radiant”) and Niamh (“bright, radiant”).

What is the origin of the name Bahia?

Bahia is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).

Is Bahia a boy or girl name?

Bahia is a girl name.

How popular is the name Bahia?

Bahia is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2020. It peaked at #6,900 in 1974, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.

What names are similar to Bahia?

If you like Bahia, you might also like Bahiya, Phoebe, Zahra, Neve and Niamh. Bahiya is another spelling of the same name.

What should I know before naming my baby Bahia?

Bahia is an Arabic girl name meaning “radiant”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.