Find out how popular the first name Aya has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Aya by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Aya is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 412 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Aya.

The history of the first name Aya

The name Aya is believed to have originated from various ancient languages and cultures, with different meanings and origins attributed to it. One of the earliest known origins can be traced back to the Japanese language, where the name is written using the hiragana characters あや (aya) or 彩 (aya). In Japanese, the name can mean "colorful," "design," or "pattern," reflecting the vibrant and artistic nature of the name.

Another possible origin of the name Aya is from Arabic, where it is spelled آية (Āyah) and means "sign," "miracle," or "verse from the Quran." In Islamic culture, the name holds significance as it is associated with the revelations and teachings found in the holy book.

The name Aya also has roots in the Hebrew language, where it is spelled אָיָה (Ayah) and can mean "bird," "falcon," or "hawk." This connection to birds may symbolize freedom, strength, and keen vision.

In ancient Egyptian history, the name Aya was used as a variant of the name Ay, which was the name of an Egyptian pharaoh who ruled during the 18th Dynasty around 1323–1319 BCE. Pharaoh Ay is known for his brief reign and for completing the construction of the famous mortuary temple of Akhenaten at Akhetaten (modern-day Amarna).

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Aya was Aya of Ghazni, an 11th-century Persian princess and the daughter of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. She is known for her patronage of art and literature during the Islamic Golden Age.

Another notable figure was Aya of Kyoto, a Japanese Buddhist nun and poet who lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333 CE). She was renowned for her contributions to the development of Japanese literature and poetry.

In the 16th century, Aya Bey was a prominent Ottoman statesman and military commander who served as the Beylerbeyi (Governor-General) of Egypt from 1549 to 1551 CE.

During the 19th century, Aya Kaneko was a Japanese educator and one of the first female principals in Japan. She played a significant role in promoting women's education and empowerment in the late Edo and Meiji periods.

More recently, Aya Matsuura is a Japanese singer and actress who gained popularity as a member of the J-pop group Morning Musume in the early 2000s.

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 Aya was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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