About the name Raya
The origin of Raya is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Hebrew roots, with the meaning “Friend”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Raya we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a modern, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Raya ranked #369 for girls in the US, with 831 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 2023. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Raya were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #369
- In 2015
- #1211
- Babies in 2025
- 831
Popularity of Raya, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Raya
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Raya on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Raya. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Raya
Raya is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Raya
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.