Arya

♀ Girl

Pronounced AR-ee-uh /ˈɑːr.i.ə/High

Meaning: Noble; honorable — from Sanskrit ārya meaning noble, of high rankHigh

In 30 seconds: A Sanskrit name meaning 'noble' with ancient Indo-Iranian roots, Arya leapt into mainstream consciousness through the fearless swordswoman Arya Stark in Game of Thrones. It's now a top-100 girls' name in the U.S.

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Origin HighSanskrit, Persian

MeaningNoble; honorable — from Sanskrit ārya meaning noble, of high rank

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 11,117

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Arya (also spelled Aria or Ariya) derives from the Sanskrit ārya, an ancient Indo-Iranian term meaning 'noble,' 'honorable,' or 'of high rank.' In the Vedic tradition, arya referred to members of the noble or respectable classes. The Persian word Ariya shares the same Proto-Indo-European root and is the source of the country name Iran (from Aryan).

In South Asian and Persian cultures, Arya has been used as a given name for both boys and girls for centuries. In the West, the name's profile was dramatically raised by the character Arya Stark in Game of Thrones (2011–2019). U.S. popularity for girls surged from 2011 onward, entering the top 100 by the mid-2010s.

Did you know? Arya Stark in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series (and HBO's Game of Thrones) is widely credited with the explosive rise of the name in the U.S. after the show premiered in 2011.

Variations

AriaAriyaAriyah

Nicknames

Ari

Famous Bearers

★Arya Stark (fictional) (2011 (TV))
Beloved character in HBO's Game of Thrones, credited with the name's surge in popularity.

If you like Arya…

Aria— variant spelling sharing the same sound and musical appeal

Nova— similarly short, modern-feeling celestial-inspired name for girls

Luna— popular three-syllable girls' name with the same breezy, mythic feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Arya mean?

Arya comes from the Sanskrit ārya meaning 'noble' or 'honorable,' an ancient Indo-Iranian term for a person of high rank.

How do you pronounce Arya?

Arya is pronounced AR-ee-uh /ˈɑːr.i.ə/ — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Arya a boy or girl name?

Arya is used for both, but in the U.S. it is now predominantly a girl's name, largely due to the Game of Thrones character.

How popular is Arya?

Arya has been in the U.S. top 100 girls' names since the mid-2010s, driven largely by the popularity of Game of Thrones.