Arika
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially with African roots.
Name Census estimates that about 2,338 living Americans carry the first name Arika. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Arika today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Arika births was 1991 (109 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Arika. 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
2.3K
~ 1 in 146,602 Americans
Peak year
1991
109 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,695
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Arika: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Arika from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 774 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arika 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 Arika during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Arikas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. California, Michigan, Ohio recorded the most babies named Arika, while Wisconsin, Washington, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 44 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Arika
The name Arika has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was prominent in ancient India. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "arika," which means "sun" or "sunbeam." The earliest records of the name date back to the 5th century BCE, during the Vedic period in India.
In Hindu mythology, the sun was considered a powerful and revered deity, often associated with life, warmth, and prosperity. As such, names related to the sun held significant cultural and spiritual significance. Arika was likely bestowed upon children as a way to honor the sun's divine presence and to seek its blessings for the child's well-being and success.
The name Arika found its way into various ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, including the Vedas and the Puranas. These texts often mentioned individuals with this name, though specific details about their lives are scarce. One notable figure was Arika Devi, a revered female saint from the 7th century CE, who was known for her devotion to the goddess Parvati and her spiritual teachings.
In the 11th century, a notable scholar and philosopher named Arika Bhatta lived in the Mithila region of present-day Bihar, India. He made significant contributions to the study of Nyaya philosophy, a branch of Hindu logic and epistemology. His writings and teachings influenced generations of scholars and thinkers.
During the medieval period, the name Arika gained popularity among the warrior class in certain regions of India. One prominent figure was Arika Singh, a brave and skilled warrior from the 16th century who fought against the Mughal Empire. His valor and leadership were celebrated in local folklore and ballads.
In more recent history, Arika Bansal was a renowned Indian classical dancer who lived from 1918 to 2005. She was instrumental in preserving and promoting the Kathak dance form, and her performances were widely acclaimed both in India and internationally.
While the name Arika has its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu culture, it has transcended linguistic and geographical boundaries, finding its way into various cultures and communities around the world. Its connection to the sun and its symbolic significance continue to resonate with many people, ensuring its enduring presence as a beautiful and meaningful name.
People
Arika + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Arika 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
Arika: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Arika?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,338 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Arika 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 146,602 US residents.
Is Arika a common name?
We classify Arika as "Rare". It ranks above 94.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,434 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Arika most popular?
The single biggest year for Arika was 1991, when 109 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Arika is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Arika a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Arika 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.