Rising since 1997, #1,990 for girls today.
Popularity of Arayah since 1997
Babies named Arayah per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Arayah's real moment was 2023.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 272 |
| 2010s | 707 |
| 2020s | 600 |
Meaning & origin
Arayah is a modern American name first recorded in 1997, and it has been rising in use ever since. In 2025, it ranked 1990 nationally, with an estimated 1 in 16,742 newborn girls receiving the name. Its peak year was 2023, after nearly three decades of steady growth. Arayah is most popular in Louisiana, Indiana, and Virginia, suggesting a broad but regionally concentrated appeal. The name's origins are uncertain; it appears to be a contemporary creation, possibly influenced by similar-sounding names like Araya, Aria, or Arya, and the common suffix 'yah' seen in many modern coinages. As a recent entry in the U.S. naming landscape, Arayah reflects the trend toward melodic, vowel-heavy names with a distinctive rhythm.
Arayah is a modern coinage, first recorded in the United States in 1997. It likely emerged as a respelling or elaboration of names like Araya, Aria, or Ara, following a trend of 'ay' and 'ah' endings popular in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The name may incorporate elements from Hebrew (Aryeh meaning 'lion') or Italian (aria meaning 'air'), but there is no established etymology.
Where Arayah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ara, Ray, Aya
Sibling names for Arayah
Names that share Arayah's style, for a brother or sister.
