Aariyah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "celestial" or "heavenly".
Name Census estimates that about 816 living Americans carry the first name Aariyah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Aariyah today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Aariyah births was 2018 (70 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Aariyah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
816
~ 1 in 420,042 Americans
Peak year
2018
70 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,565
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Aariyah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Aariyah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 467 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Aariyah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aariyah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Aariyah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Aariyahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 8 states and territories. Texas, California, Georgia recorded the most babies named Aariyah, while Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 28 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Aariyah
The name Aariyah is a relatively modern variation of the name Ariah, which has its roots in the Hebrew language. The name Ariah is derived from the Hebrew word "Ariel," meaning "lion of God." It is a name that has been used for both males and females, although it is more commonly associated with girls in recent times.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ariah can be traced back to the Bible, where it is mentioned as a name for one of the leaders of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. In the Book of Ezra, Ariah is listed as one of the "heads of fathers' houses" who accompanied Ezra on his journey.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Ariah or its variations. One of the earliest recorded was Ariah ben Avraham, a 13th-century Spanish Jewish philosopher and astronomer. He was known for his commentaries on various astronomical works and his contributions to the study of the Jewish calendar.
Another notable figure was Ariah Dillon, an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana in the early 19th century. He was born in 1776 and played a significant role in the state's political landscape during his time.
In the world of literature, one cannot overlook Ariah Suzanna Drachler, a 19th-century German Jewish writer and poet. She was born in 1836 and is remembered for her contributions to the German-Jewish literary tradition, particularly her poetry and short stories.
Moving into the 20th century, we encounter Ariah Liollio, an Italian painter and sculptor born in 1921. He was known for his abstract and avant-garde works, and his art was exhibited in various galleries across Europe.
Finally, in more recent times, we have Ariah Park, an Australian singer-songwriter born in 1995. She has gained popularity for her unique blend of indie and folk music, and her debut album, "Lover Boy," received critical acclaim upon its release in 2019.
While the name Aariyah is a more modern spelling variation, it carries the same essence and meaning as its Hebrew predecessor, Ariah. It is a name that has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.
People
Aariyah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Aariyah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Aariyah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Aariyah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 816 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Aariyah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 420,042 US residents.
Is Aariyah a common name?
We classify Aariyah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 822 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Aariyah most popular?
The single biggest year for Aariyah was 2018, when 70 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Aariyah is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Aariyah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Aariyah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.