Arya, derived from Sanskrit, translates to 'noble' or 'pure'. It's of Indian origin and is predominantly used as a female given name. Arya gained significant popularity through the character Arya Stark in George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series and its television adaptation, 'Game of Thrones', although it predates this usage.
The name Arya has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past few decades in the United States. Between 1982 and 2023, there have been a total of 2,222 births registered for girls named Arya.
The name's popularity began to take off in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with a significant jump from 47 births in 2000 to 79 births in 2002. This upward trend continued throughout the decade, peaking at 114 births in 2008.
However, after reaching its peak in 2008, the popularity of the name Arya began to decline gradually over the following years. Between 2009 and 2017, there was a steady decrease in the number of newborn girls named Arya each year, from 113 births in 2009 down to 46 births in 2017.
Interestingly, despite this overall downward trend, the name Arya has seen a recent resurgence in popularity. After bottoming out at 46 births in 2017, the number of newborn girls named Arya began to increase again, reaching 56 births in 2023. This recent uptick suggests that the name Arya may still have some enduring appeal for parents in the United States.
In conclusion, while the popularity of the name Arya has fluctuated over time, it remains a well-liked choice among American parents, with over two thousand babies having been given this unique and distinctive name since 1982.