Declining since 2018, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Kriya since 1997
Babies named Kriya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 38 |
| 2010s | 80 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Meaning & origin
Kriya is a rare, spiritually resonant name derived from Sanskrit, where it denotes a sacred action or ritual, especially in yoga. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1997, a period when interest in yoga and Eastern spirituality was surging in America. Its peak came in 2018, which aligns with a broader trend of parents choosing names with meditative or metaphysical meanings. Since then, its usage has been gradually declining, reflecting the natural ebb and flow of fashionable spiritual names. With a current rank of 14,942, it remains an uncommon choice, given to roughly 1 in every 321,453 babies in 2025. The name has not yet seen widespread adoption, and its top states are not well-defined, suggesting a scattered, individualistic pattern of use. Parents drawn to Kriya likely value its deep connection to action and mindfulness, and its rarity offers a distinctive option for those seeking a name with profound cultural roots.
Kriya comes from the Sanskrit root 'kri' meaning 'to do' or 'to act'. In Hinduism and yoga, kriya refers to a specific set of practices or rituals aimed at spiritual purification and advancement. The name has been used in India for centuries, but gained broader recognition in the West through the popularization of yoga and meditation. As a given name, it is rare and most common in the United States since the late 1990s.
Sibling names for Kriya
Names that share Kriya's style, for a brother or sister.
