Zaniyah is a modern American coinage with no established etymology; it follows the fashionable pattern of Aniyah, Janiyah and Saniyah, pairing a bright Z- opening with the flowing ending borrowed from Arabic and Hebrew names such as Aaliyah. Like its sisters it is best read as a "sound name", chosen for its rhythm rather than an ancient meaning. Zaniyah has been in the US top 1000 since 2007, peaked at number 705 in 2014 and ranks number 835 among girls in 2025.