How to say it
AR · i · a
ˈɑr.i.ə
Feminine
Aria
Air, melody, or lioness
What it means
Two roots converge here. The Italian aria is the operatic solo, literally 'air' or 'melody.' The Hebrew Ariyah is a feminine form of aryeh, meaning 'lion.'
Italian and Hebrew arrived at the same modern English spelling by different routes. Aria as the soaring vocal solo in opera. Ariyah as the feminine of the Hebrew word for lion. The name barely registered in US records before 2000, then climbed quickly through the 2010s, helped by characters on Pretty Little Liars and Game of Thrones (whose Arya shares only the sound). Aria now sits in the US top twenty for girls.
How to spell Aria
The standard spelling is Aria. Common variants include Arya, Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah, but Aria is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #19 in 2018, currently #26 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Aria Mia Loberti American actress known for the Netflix series All the Light We Cannot See
- Aria Montgomery central character in the TV series Pretty Little Liars
Spelling variants
- Arya
- Ariah
- Ariya
- Ariyah
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Aria mean?
- Two roots converge here. The Italian aria is the operatic solo, literally 'air' or 'melody.' The Hebrew Ariyah is a feminine form of aryeh, meaning 'lion.'
- What does Aria mean in Italian?
- In Italian, Aria means "Air, melody, or lioness." Italian and Hebrew arrived at the same modern English spelling by different routes. Aria as the soaring vocal solo in opera. Ariyah as the feminine of the Hebrew word for lion. The name barely registered in US records before 2000, then climbed quickly through the 2010s, helped by characters on Pretty Little Liars and Game of Thrones (whose Arya shares only the sound). Aria now sits in the US top twenty for girls.
- How do you pronounce Aria?
- Aria is pronounced ˈɑr.i.ə. Say it as AR-i-a, with the stress on the "ar" syllable.
- How do you spell Aria?
- The standard spelling is Aria. Common spelling variants include Arya, Ariah, Ariya, Ariyah.
- Is Aria a boy or girl name?
- Aria is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Aria?
- Aria ranked #26 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.