Raya

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Raya

Pronounced RY-uh /ˈraɪ.ə/Medium

Meaning: A name found in several traditions - Hebrew ('friend; companion'), Arabic, and Russian - and widely known from the film 'Raya and the Last Dragon.' Overwhelmingly a girl's name today; used here for a boy, and we flag the cross-sex lean.Low

In 30 seconds: A soft, cross-tradition name: Raya means 'friend' by the Hebrew route (said 'RY-uh'). Far more often a girl's name - we note the lean.

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Origin LowHebrew, Arabic

MeaningA name found in several traditions - Hebrew ('friend; companion'), Arabic, and Russian - and widely known from the film 'Raya and the Last Dragon.' Overwhelmingly a girl's name today; used here for a boy, and we flag the cross-sex lean.

History & Origin

Raya appears across Hebrew ('friend; companion'), Arabic, and Russian tradition, and in popular film. It is far more often a girl's name; used here for a boy, we flag the cross-sex lean - rare for boys in the U.S. (said 'RY-uh').

For boys it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against much heavier girls' use. Rare for boys, soft, and cross-tradition.

Did you know? Raya turns up in Hebrew ('friend'), Arabic, and Russian, and is widely known from 'Raya and the Last Dragon' - overwhelmingly a girl's name today, though used here for a boy, which we flag (said 'RY-uh').

Overall data confidence 36%

References — Raya — Hebrew/Arabic/Russian; 'friend'; girl-leaning

Variations

RaiaRayahRaja

Nicknames

RayRai

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Raya…

Maya— a like soft two-beat name

Kaya— a like gentle -aya name

Raia— a spelling cousin

Rhea— a like soft mythic name

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By themesoft cross-sex unisex-lean-girl

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Raya mean?

Raya is a name in Hebrew ('friend'), Arabic, and Russian; overwhelmingly a girl's name, used here for a boy.

How do you pronounce Raya?

It's said RY-uh /ˈraɪ.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Raya a boy or girl name?

Raya is used here for a boy, but it is overwhelmingly a girl's name - we flag the lean.

How popular is Raya?

Raya is an extremely rare name in the U.S. for boys