Find out how popular the first name Aryan has been for the last 46 years (from 1978 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Aryan by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Aryan is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 91% of people named Aryan being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 355 male babies and 13 female babies born with the name Aryan.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 13 baby girls were named Aryan in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Aryan

The name Aryan is derived from the Sanskrit word "arya," which means "noble" or "honorable." It originated in ancient India, where it was used to refer to the Indo-Iranian people who spoke the Aryan languages.

The earliest recorded use of the name Aryan can be found in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures that date back to around 1500-500 BCE. In these texts, the term "arya" was used to describe the people who followed the Vedic religion and culture.

In the Avestan language of ancient Persia, the equivalent term "airya" was used to refer to the Iranian people. This term can be found in the Avesta, the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, which were composed around 600-400 BCE.

One of the earliest known individuals with the name Aryan was Aryan, a Persian king who ruled the Median Empire in the 7th century BCE. He is mentioned in the Behistun Inscription, a multi-lingual inscription carved on a rock face in modern-day Iran.

In ancient Greek sources, the term "Arianoi" was used to refer to the people living in the region of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. This term was derived from the Aryan language spoken by these people.

Another notable historical figure with the name Aryan was Aryan, a Persian philosopher who lived in the 6th century CE. He is known for his work on logic and philosophy, and his writings had a significant influence on Islamic thought.

In the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, there is a character named Aryan who is a king of the Kuru dynasty. This epic is believed to have been composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE.

Aryan was also the name of a Persian prince who lived in the 5th century BCE. He is mentioned in the ancient Greek historian Herodotus' work "The Histories."

During the medieval period, the name Aryan was used by various Persian and Indian rulers and nobles. One notable example is Aryan, a Persian prince who lived in the 11th century CE and was a member of the Ghaznavid dynasty.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Aryan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aryan, please contact us.

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