Priya Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Priya is a name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'beloved' or 'dear'. It has evolved through languages such as Hindi and Bengali. The name is widely used in Indian culture and is associated with warmth and affection. There is no biblical relevance to the name, and it has gained popularity in modern times, particularly in Hindu communities. Variants include Priyanka and Piya, and notable people with this name include actress Priya Anand and social media personality Priya Varrier.
The name Priya is most popular in New Jersey, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Priya has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Priya' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3056th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1440th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1296th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1511th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Priya' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Priya"
Pronunciation
/ˈpriːjə/
Origin
Sanskrit
Etymology
The name Priya is derived from the Sanskrit word 'प्रिय' which means 'beloved' or 'dear'. It is commonly used in Indian culture and languages.
Meaning
beloved, dear
Language Evolution
Sanskrit: प्रिय (Priya), Hindi: प्रिया (Priya), Bengali: প্রিয়া (Priya)
Historical Usage
The name Priya has been used in India for centuries and gained popularity in modern times, especially among Hindu families.
Variants & Derivatives
Priyanka, Priyadarshini, Piya
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Priya is a widely recognized name in India and among Indian communities worldwide, often associated with warmth and affection.
Famous People
Priya Anand (Indian actress), Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi (Indian politician), Priya Varrier (Indian actress and social media personality)
Explore More Priya Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Priya"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Priya"
"Priya" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3056th of 19264 | 365 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1440th of 27321 | 1,643 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1296th of 35406 | 2,699 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1511th of 30306 | 1,754 |
Regional Popularity of "Priya" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Priya" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
69.90% 2053rd/2937 |
48.58% 1692nd/3483 |
88.63% 3118th/3518 |
67.90% 2746th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
38.75% 1428th/3685 |
19.02% 851st/4475 |
35.73% 1856th/5194 |
22.46% 1419th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
27.65% 1267th/4582 |
14.60% 754th/5164 |
22.51% 1646th/7313 |
18.97% 1416th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
32.40% 1291st/3984 |
27.41% 1230th/4487 |
26.75% 1825th/6822 |
26.15% 1641st/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Priya"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Priya" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.