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Raya

♀ Girl

Pronounced RAY-ah /ˈreɪ.ə/High

Meaning: From Hebrew 'ra'ya' (friend, companion) or Arabic 'raya' (flag, banner) or Bulgarian short form of Raina (queen). Multiple possible origins.Medium

In 30 seconds: Raya is a luminous cross-cultural name meaning 'friend' in Hebrew and 'banner' in Arabic. It gained widespread attention through the 2021 Disney film Raya and the Last Dragon, making it a name of both ancient depth and modern magic.
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Origin MediumHebrew, Arabic, Bulgarian
MeaningFrom Hebrew 'ra'ya' (friend, companion) or Arabic 'raya' (flag, banner) or Bulgarian short form of Raina (queen). Multiple possible origins.
U.S. rank (2025)#369 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births831 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,996

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319582025

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

History & Origin

Raya has multiple independent origins. In Hebrew, ra'ya means friend or companion. In Arabic, raya means flag or banner. In Bulgarian and Eastern European tradition, Raya is a short form of Raina (queen) or Rayna. The name has been used across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and in Hispanic and Latin American cultures.

Raya has been growing in the United States since the 2010s, benefiting from the Disney film Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), which dramatically boosted the name's visibility. It entered the US top 200 girls' names in the early 2020s. Its two-syllable simplicity, multiple positive meanings, and the Disney heroine connection have made it one of the fastest-rising names of the decade.

Did you know? Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) was Disney's first Southeast Asian-inspired animated film, featuring a heroine named Raya from a world inspired by Southeast Asian culture — making this name the first Disney princess name drawn primarily from Mainland Southeast Asian traditions.
Overall data confidence 80%
Behind the Name: Raya — Multiple possible etymologies across Hebrew, Arabic, and BulgarianSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity spike correlated with Disney film release

Variations

RaiaRaiyaRaiah

Nicknames

Ray

Famous Bearers

  • ★Raya (Disney fictional) (2021)
    Heroine of Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon, the studio's first Southeast Asian-inspired animated feature.

If you like Raya…

Maya— two-syllable feminine name with multiple cultural origins and the same simple, luminous quality
Layla— two-syllable Arabic name with the same cross-cultural appeal and melodic feminine warmth
Zara— two-syllable name with Middle Eastern roots and the same striking, minimal feminine elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Raya mean?

Raya means 'friend' in Hebrew, 'flag or banner' in Arabic, and is a short form of Raina (queen) in Bulgarian.

How do you pronounce Raya?

Raya is pronounced RAY-ah (/ˈreɪ.ə/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Raya a boy or girl name?

Raya is a girl's name.

How popular is Raya?

Raya entered the US top 200 girls' names in the early 2020s, boosted by Disney's 2021 film.