Aryan is a unisex given name of Sanskrit origin. It means "noble" or "pure" in the ancient Indian language. The name Aryan is derived from the Sanskrit word "arya," which was used to describe the Indo-European peoples who migrated into India around 1500 BCE.
The name gained popularity during the late Victorian era when it became fashionable among English-speaking families to give their children names with Sanskrit origins. Some notable individuals named Aryan include the Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the American actor Aryan Simhadri.
Despite its historic use, the name Aryan has been subject to controversy in recent years due to its association with white supremacist ideology. However, it is important to note that this usage is a distortion of the original meaning and does not reflect the true origins or significance of the name.
In conclusion, Aryan is an ancient Sanskrit given name that means "noble" or "pure." It was used historically to describe Indo-European peoples who migrated into India and has been popular among English-speaking families since the late Victorian era. Despite recent controversies, the name's true origin and meaning should be considered independently of any negative associations.
The name Aryan has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was quite rare, with only five births recorded in 1978 and six in 1981. However, from the mid-1980s onwards, there has been a steady rise in its popularity.
In 1985, ten babies were named Aryan, marking the beginning of a consistent upward trend that continued throughout the 1990s. By 1993, this number had more than doubled to 28 births, and it remained around this figure for the next five years.
The new millennium saw an even sharper increase in popularity for the name Aryan. In 2001, there were 114 births, a significant jump from the previous decade's average. This trend continued throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, with over 300 babies named Aryan each year between 2006 and 2015.
Despite a slight dip in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic (with 271 births recorded in 2020), the name Aryan has remained consistently popular in recent years. In 2021, there were 312 births, and this figure rose again to 355 in 2023.
Overall, since 1978, there have been a total of 7,511 babies named Aryan born in the United States. This demonstrates that while once rare, the name Aryan has become increasingly common and beloved among parents over time.