Arya (name)

Arya
GenderNeutral
Origin
Word/nameSanskrit, Old Iranian
Meaning"Noble one"[1] [2][3]
Other names
See alsoAria, Aryan, Ariana

Arya, also spelled Aarya, Aariya or Ariya (Sanskrit: आर्य/आर्या ārya/āryā; Old Persian: 𐎠𐎼𐎡𐎹 Persian: آریا 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 as "noble" or "honorable". 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 (आर्य ārya) and feminine (आर्या āryā) forms. The name is widely used in India and Iran, where it carries connotations of an ancient lineage of rich heritage and cultural values.[4][5][6]

The name Arya can also be found in countries historically deeply influenced by India and Indian culture from where the name originates. For instance, in Indonesia, Arya is commonly used as a masculine given name, particularly in Java, Bali, and other places. In Javanese, the name takes variations in the forms of Aryo, Ario, and Aryono. In another Indianized country of Cambodia, Arya is more often given to girls. It is a common name among Hindus.


Modern usage

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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,[7] Game of Thrones-themed burlesque routines, or people naming their children after characters from the series.[8] In 2012, "Arya" was the fastest-rising girl's name in popularity in the United States, jumping from 711th to 413th position.[9] [10]

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.[11] The name entered the top 200 most commonly used names for girls born in England and Wales in 2017.[12]

Notable persons

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From India

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Single name

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Given name

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Surname

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From Indonesia

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From Iran

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In other countries

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Fictional characters

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References

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  1. ^ "Arya - Meaning and Definition". Wisdom Library. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Baby name". Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Aryan". Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  4. ^ Gandhi, Maneka (2004). The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Girls. New Delhi: Penguin Books. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-14-303169-7. OCLC 60454994. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  5. ^ Gandhi, Maneka (2004). The Penguin Book of Hindu Names for Boys. New Delhi: Penguin Books. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-14-303168-0. OCLC 60391724. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  6. ^ Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2013.
  7. ^ Templeton, Molly (16 June 2013). "The best (and the weirdest) of "Game of Thrones" fanfiction". Salon. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  8. ^ de Castella, Tom (22 March 2013). "Game of Thrones: Why does it inspire such devotion among fans?". BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  9. ^ Carlson, Adam (10 May 2013). "'Game of Thrones' domination is nearly complete: 'Arya' is the fastest-rising name for baby girls". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  10. ^ Safronova, Valeriya (29 April 2019). "Hello, Arya! 'Game of Thrones' Baby Names Are for Girls: Baby names inspired by the powerful women on "Game of Thrones" are rising in popularity". New York Times. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Popular Baby Names (United States Social Security Administration)". Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  12. ^ Mzimba, Lizo (20 September 2017). "Game of Thrones Arya among 200 most popular names". BBC News. Retrieved 21 September 2017.