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A great number of names ending with -iya(h) appear on the U.S. SSA list in 2011, including Aniyah, Janiyah, Zariyah, Samiyah, Jaliyah, Kaliyah, Zaniyah, Taliyah, etc. I have never met anyone with this type of name, and I'm curious about how they are generally pronounced. Is the ending "eye-ah" (as in Mariah) or "ee-ya" (as in Leah)? Or can it go either way?

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Also, any info about why this ending has become so popular?