Arya

Arya has Indo-Iranian roots connected with the meaning “noble.” It has a history of use in South Asian and Persian naming traditions, rather than originating with a modern television character. Its use for boys and girls varies by language and community, which is why a US popularity chart cannot describe every cultural tradition behind it.

Arya Stark in A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones gives the spelling a strong fictional association for many English-speaking parents. Christopher Paolini’s fantasy books also include an Arya. The similar-looking Aria has a separate musical interpretation, so the two should not automatically share a meaning. The pronunciation AHR-yuh is common in English, but families may prefer the sound used in their own language.