The name comes directly from the Zulu phrase meaning, “they increased.”
The name is borne by Doja Cat, whose birth name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (b. 1995); South African activist and conservationist, Zandile Ndhlovu, and South African actress, Zandile Msutwana (b. 1979).
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The name is from a Zulu, Xhosa and Ndebele phrase, meaning “they are increasing.”
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The name comes directly from the Zulu phrase ama (plural article) & hle (beautiful, good, nice).
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The name is used in several closely related South African languages, from a word meaning “loved.” A notable bearer is British actress, Thandie Newton (nee Melanie Thandiwe Newton b. 1972)
The name can be derived from the Arabic root L-Y-N لَيِّن meaning “softness, tenderness.” لِيانَةٌ is pronounced the same as Liana, which sounds the same but is not related, though it may sometimes be transliterated as such. It is essentially a variation of Layyan. Other transliterations include: Liyanna, Liyane, Liyanah, Liyyana, and Liyyanah.
The name is also Zulu and means “it’s raining.” It was recently the subject of a 2017 documentary recounting the struggles of several Swazi orphans, one of whom is a girl named Liyana. The name is usually given to girls born while it is raining.
Liyana can also be Erzya meaning, “unique, different, not like the others,” or derive from the Erzya word, liyaanaz (flax).
Currently, Liyana is the 298th Most Popular Female Name in England & Wales & the 227th Most Popular in the Netherlands (2018).
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