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Feminine

Raya

ˈraɪ.ə

Friend, or thirst-quenched

HebrewArabic

How to say it

RA · ya

ˈraɪ.ə

What it means

A name with several roots: Hebrew 'friend, companion,' Arabic for 'thirst-quenching,' and a Slavic short for Raisa.

Raya gathers a few meanings: in Hebrew it is 'friend' or 'companion,' in Arabic it suggests being 'thirst-quenched' or a 'banner,' and in Slavic use it is a short for Raisa. That cross-cultural reach plus Disney's 2021 warrior princess in Raya and the Last Dragon sent it climbing. Short and bright, it is said RY-ah or RAH-yah depending on the family.

How to spell Raya

The standard spelling is Raya. Common variants include Raia, Rayah, Raja, but Raya is the most widely used form.

Popularity over time

#10 #100 #1000 #1 #1099618802025

peaked at #353 in 2023, currently #369 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

Heads-up notes

  • Pronunciation

    RY-ah or RAH-yah.

  • Pop culture

    Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) boosted it.

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.

  • Raya the warrior princess of Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon

Spelling variants

  • Raia
  • Rayah
  • Raja

Common questions

What does the name Raya mean?
A name with several roots: Hebrew 'friend, companion,' Arabic for 'thirst-quenching,' and a Slavic short for Raisa.
What does Raya mean in Hebrew?
In Hebrew, Raya means "Friend, or thirst-quenched." Raya gathers a few meanings: in Hebrew it is 'friend' or 'companion,' in Arabic it suggests being 'thirst-quenched' or a 'banner,' and in Slavic use it is a short for Raisa. That cross-cultural reach plus Disney's 2021 warrior princess in Raya and the Last Dragon sent it climbing. Short and bright, it is said RY-ah or RAH-yah depending on the family.
How do you pronounce Raya?
Raya is pronounced ˈraɪ.ə. Say it as RA-ya, with the stress on the "ra" syllable.
How do you spell Raya?
The standard spelling is Raya. Common spelling variants include Raia, Rayah, Raja.
Is Raya a boy or girl name?
Raya is traditionally a feminine name.
How popular is the name Raya?
Raya ranked #369 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.