The name Wanya first appeared in the U.S. baby name data in 1992. It reached peak usage four years later:
- 1997: 24 baby boys named Wanya
- 1996: 95 baby boys named Wanya [peak]
- 1995: 77 baby boys named Wanya
- 1994: 10 baby boys named Wanya
- 1993: 7 baby boys named Wanya
- 1992: 7 baby boys named Wanya [debut]
- 1991: unlisted
- 1990: unlisted
Other spellings that popped up in the mid-1990s include Wanye, Wanyae, Wonya, Juanya, Juanye, and Juanyae.
So, what was influencing the name Wanya?
Singer Wanyá (pronounced wahn-yay) Morris, who was born in Philadelphia in 1973.
Wanyá is a founding member of the Philly-based vocal harmony group Boyz II Men — one of the most successful musical acts of the 1990s.
The group’s first two singles, “Motownphilly” and “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday,” both became top-5 hits on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart during the latter months of 1991.
Among Boyz II Men’s other hits were…
- “End Of The Road” (1992), which became the first song to rank #1 for 13 weeks straight,
- “I’ll Make Love To You” (1994), which ranked #1 for 14 weeks straight, and,
- with Mariah Carey, “One Sweet Day” (1995), which became the first song to rank #1 for 16 weeks straight.
Both “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love To You” also won Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (in 1993 and 1995, respectively).
Another song that would have drawn particular attention to Wanyá Morris’ first name in the mid-’90s was “Brokenhearted,” a duet with Brandy that peaked at #9 on the Hot 100 in October of 1995.
What are your thoughts on the name Wanya? (How would you spell it?)
P.S. Wanyá’s middle name is Jermaine…
Sources: Wanya Morris – Wikipedia, Boyz II Men – Wikipedia, Boyz II Men – Billboard, List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones – Wikipedia, SSA
Images: Screenshots of the music videos for “Water Runs Dry” and “Brokenhearted”