Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Priya

Priya

♀ Girl

Pronounced prih-YAH /pΙΎΙͺ.ˈjɑː/Medium

Meaning: BelovedMedium

In 30 seconds: Priya is a Sanskrit-rooted Indian name meaning 'beloved', long popular across India.
πŸ’• Browse more names
Origin MediumHinduism, Hindi, Marathi
MeaningBeloved
U.S. rank (2025)#1956 β†˜ Falling
2025 U.S. births99 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 6,560

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 201419692025

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

Priya comes from the Hindu naming tradition with the meaning 'beloved'. It is one of the most widely used girls' names in India, valued for its warm, affectionate sense. The word appears throughout Sanskrit literature, which gives the name deep cultural grounding.

The two crisp syllables make it easy to pair with longer family names across India's many languages. Bearers include the actresses Priya Rajvansh and Priya Tendulkar.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Priya is 'beloved', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Priya β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

β€”

Nicknames

β€”

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Priya Rajvansh (1936–2000)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • β˜…Priya Tendulkar (1954–2002)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Priya…

Miraβ€” Another widely used Indian girl's name with a similar light two-syllable sound
Riyaβ€” a fellow Hindi choice
Prishaβ€” shares Priya's Hindi roots
Aanyaβ€” another Hindi name
Diyaβ€” a fellow Hindi choice

Explore names like Priya

By themehindihinduism
By meaningLove

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Priya mean?

Priya is usually explained as meaning 'beloved' and is most often linked with Hinduism tradition.

How do you pronounce Priya?

It's commonly said prih-YAH /pΙΎΙͺ.ˈjɑː/.

Is Priya a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Priya is used as a girl name.

How popular is Priya?

In 2024, Priya ranked #1857 in the U.S. for girls, with 108 births recorded.

πŸ’¬ Ask Nia