Arya (name)


Arya, also spelled Aarya, Aariya or Ariya is a name of Indo-Iranian origin. It traces back to the ethnonym and endonym Arya, used by the Indo-Iranians to identify themselves. In both Sanskrit and Avestan, Arya refers to those viewed as a part of a civilized or morally distinguished group, contrasting with non-Aryans. The term appears in ancient religious and historical texts, representing ideals of nobility and virtue. In the Indian subcontinent, the Sanskrit name 'Arya' is used as both a surname and a given name, with the given name appearing in masculine and feminine forms.
The personal name Arya is derived from the Sanskrit term ārya, which in Vedic and Classical Sanskrit meant “noble”, “honourable”, or “freeman”, and is first attested in ancient Indian texts. The name is widely used in India and Iran, where it carries connotations of an ancient lineage of rich heritage and cultural values.
The name Arya can also be found in countries that carry significant influence by Indian culture and India from where the name originates. For instance, in Indonesia, Arya is commonly used as a masculine given name, particularly in Java and Bali. In Javanese, the name takes variations in the forms of Aryo, Ario, and Aryono. In another Indian-influenced country of Cambodia, Arya is more often given to girls. It is a common name among Hindus.

Modern usage

The 2011 television series Game of Thrones features a character named Arya Stark, increasing the name's popularity among Western audiences. In 2013, BBC News wrote that "the passion and the extreme devotion of fans" had brought about a phenomenon unlike anything related to other popular TV series, manifesting itself in a very broad range of fan labor, such as fan fiction, Game of Thrones-themed burlesque routines, or people naming their children after characters from the series. In 2012, Arya was the fastest-rising girl's name in popularity in the United States, jumping from 711th to 413th position.
It peaked in popularity in the United States in 2019, when it was the 92nd most popular name for newborn girls. It fell to 120th position on the U.S. popularity chart in 2021. The name entered the top 200 most commonly used names for girls born in England and Wales in 2017.

People with the name

India

Mononym

Given name

Surname

Indonesia

Iran

Other countries

Fictional characters