Chaya
/ˈχa.ja/
Chaya is a Hebrew feminine name meaning “life” or “living,” from the root chayah. It is the direct feminine equivalent of Chaim, the classic Hebrew male name meaning “life” that appears in the famous Jewish toast L’chaim (“to life”).
The name has been used in Ashkenazi Jewish communities for generations, particularly as a memorial name or as part of a compound like Chaya Mushka or Chaya Rivka. It functions both as a standalone given name and as a second given name.
Chaya stands at its all-time SSA peak: No. 594 in 2022 with 503 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 599 with 502 births—essentially at its peak level.
What the name Chaya means
The name is particularly popular in Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish communities in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. As more Hebrew names enter mainstream American culture, Chaya has gained broader visibility.
Two syllables—KHAH-yuh—include the guttural Hebrew ch sound not native to English. English speakers often approximate it as HAY-uh or CHAY-uh.
Parents who choose Chaya are almost always expressing a connection to Jewish religious tradition. The name carries the profound Jewish value of life itself as the ultimate blessing.
Related names include Chaim (the masculine form), Chayah (alternate transliteration), Eva (the Latin form of the Hebrew Chava, which shares the life-root), and Zoë (Greek for “life”).
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Chaya
Chaya - similar names
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