Chayah as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Chayah

What is the meaning of the name Chayah ?

The baby name Chayah is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KHAH-yah (Hebrew, approximated /χaˈja/),CHAY-ah (English approximation /ˈtʃeɪə/).

Chayah is Hebrew in Origin.

Chayah is a Hebrew and Yiddish feminine name derived from the verb chayah (חיה), “to live,” conveying the meaning “life” or “living one.” In Jewish thought it evokes vitality and blessing, echoed in the toast l’chaim (“to life”) and the cultural symbolism of 18, the numerical value of chai. While in Modern Hebrew chaya also means “animal,” the given name carries the positive sense of aliveness. Pronunciation is typically KHAH-yah.

The name flourished across Ashkenazi communities and was revitalized during the 20th‑century Hebrew revival; in Israel it often appears as Haya. Common transliterations and variants include Chaya, Chayah, Khaya, Haya, and the related forms Chava/Chavah (Eve), which share the same life‑root. Double names such as Chaya Sara and Chaya Mushka are traditional in Hasidic circles. Male counterparts include Chayim/Chaim. Unrelated cross‑cultural homographs (e.g., Sanskrit Chaya meaning “shadow”) exist.