Wanya is an American given name of African origin, derived from the Yoruba name Iyanu, which means "father knows best". It gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and has since been used as a unisex name, although it is more commonly given to males. The name Wanya was popularized by American R&B group Boyz II Men, whose second lead singer is named Wanya Morris.
"Wanya saw a peak in popularity in 1995 with 7 births that year, followed by consistent numbers of 5 births each in 1996 and 1998. Over these three years, the name Wanya was given to a total of 17 babies."