Arya

♂ Boy

Pronounced AR-yuh /ˈɑːr.jə/High

Meaning: Noble; honorable; from Sanskrit arya (noble, honorable, one of the Aryan people — a positive cultural identity in Vedic tradition)High

In 30 seconds: A Sanskrit name meaning 'noble' or 'honorable,' used across South Asian, Persian, and Iranian traditions. In the U.S. it appears in boys' data here, though it is also used for girls — especially through Game of Thrones character Arya Stark.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighSanskrit

MeaningNoble; honorable; from Sanskrit arya (noble, honorable, one of the Aryan people — a positive cultural identity in Vedic tradition)

U.S. rank (2025)#2483 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births54 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2008

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,335

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Arya derives from Sanskrit arya (noble, honorable), a term of respect in the Vedic tradition denoting cultured, civilized people. In Iranian tradition, the cognate form gives Iran its name. The name is used across Hindu, Zoroastrian, and secular Indian and Iranian communities.

Arya appears in U.S. boys' data in 2024 at rank #2388, though it is also used for girls (most famously as Arya Stark from Game of Thrones). The boys' data likely reflects South Asian and Iranian American use.

Did you know? In Zoroastrian tradition, the ancient Persians called themselves Arya (noble) — the same root that gives Iran its name (Land of the Aryans). The Sanskrit arya and Persian Arya are cognate, reflecting the shared ancestry of ancient Indo-Iranian peoples.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Arya — Sanskrit/Persian etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AaryaAryo

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Arya Stark (fictional)
A central character in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO's Game of Thrones (2011–2019). Her name is Sanskrit meaning 'noble.'

If you like Arya…

Aryan— Sanskrit name from the same arya noble root

Aarav— Sanskrit name meaning peaceful in the same South Asian tradition

Dhruv— Sanskrit name (Pole Star) in the same Hindu naming tradition

Vihaan— Sanskrit name meaning dawn in the same tradition

Reyan— Sanskrit name in the same South Asian register

Explore names like Arya

By themeunisex sanskrit two-syllable persian noble vedic iranian

By meaningRoyal / Noble Honor

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Arya mean?

Arya means 'noble' or 'honorable' in Sanskrit and Persian — giving Iran its name (Land of the Noble/Aryan).

How do you pronounce Arya?

It's said AR-yuh /ˈɑːr.jə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Arya a boy or girl name?

Arya is used for both sexes; it appears here in boys' data.

How popular is Arya?

Arya ranked #2388 for U.S. boys in 2024.