Arista
A name of Greek origin meaning "the most excellent" or "the best".
Name Census estimates that about 572 living Americans carry the first name Arista. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Arista today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Arista births was 2009 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Arista. 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
572
~ 1 in 599,221 Americans
Peak year
2009
31 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#15,489
Tracked since 1960
Popularity
Arista: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Arista from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 174 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arista 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 Arista during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Aristas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Arista
The name Arista is derived from the Greek word "aristos," meaning "best" or "excellent." It has its origins in ancient Greek culture and was likely first used as a name during the classical period of ancient Greece, which spanned from around the 5th century BCE to the 5th century CE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arista can be found in Greek mythology. Arista was the name of a nymph who was associated with the god Apollo. She was said to have been transformed into a constellation after her death, illustrating the significance and reverence associated with the name.
In ancient Greek literature, the name Arista appears in works by notable authors such as Hesiod and Homer. It was often used to describe individuals who were considered exceptional or virtuous, further reinforcing the meaning of the name.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Arista. One of the earliest examples is Arista of Cyrene, a philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 3rd century BCE. She is known for her contributions to the field of geometry and for her work on conic sections.
Another prominent figure named Arista was Arista of Argos, a Greek sculptor who lived in the 4th century BCE. She was renowned for her skilled craftsmanship and her ability to capture the essence of human emotion in her works of art.
In the realm of literature, Arista of Chios was a notable Greek poet who lived in the 7th century BCE. She is credited with being one of the first female poets in ancient Greece and is celebrated for her lyrical compositions.
Moving forward in time, Arista of Patrae was a Christian saint and martyr who lived in the 3rd century CE. She is revered in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church for her unwavering faith and her willingness to sacrifice her life for her beliefs.
Finally, Arista of Capua was an Italian noblewoman who lived in the 11th century CE. She is known for her patronage of the arts and her support of various cultural and religious institutions in the region.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Arista, each contributing to the rich tapestry of its meaning and significance.
People
Arista + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Arista 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
Arista: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Arista?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 572 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Arista 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 599,221 US residents.
Is Arista a common name?
We classify Arista as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 588 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Arista most popular?
The single biggest year for Arista was 2009, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Arista is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Arista a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Arista 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.