Priya
Say it: PREE-ya
GirlMeans dear, loved5 letters2 syllables
#413
in Ireland (2025)
#410 with spellings combined
9
babies in 2025
#170
best rank (2017)
234
babies since 2012
Down 177
10-year rank change
Priya through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #410 |
| 2024 | 15 | #279 |
| 2023 | 10 | #358 |
| 2022 | 21 | #214 |
| 2021 | 26 | #185 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 13 | #322 |
| 2018 | 14 | #316 |
| 2017 | 31 | #170 |
| 2016 | 21 | #228 |
| 2015 | 22 | #233 |
| 2014 | 26 | #204 |
| 2013 | 9 | #464 |
| 2012 | 7 | #562 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Priya mean?
Dear, loved
Sanskrit priya (dear, loved), a common girls' name in India.
Say it right
PREEya
The story of Priya
Priya comes from the Sanskrit word priya, meaning dear or loved. It is a common Hindu girls’ name in India, and it is used in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand too. In India it often forms part of a longer name, joined to the name of a god to mean “dear to” that god.
It is short and clear, with the same sound in English as in the languages of India.
In Ireland it first reached the CSO list in 2012. Its best year was 2017, when 31 girls were named Priya and it reached number 170. It has been less common since then, with 9 girls in 2025. In Northern Ireland its best rank was number 151 in 2018.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Priya (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Priya (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Priya | 9 | 234 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #151 (2018); 111 babies since 2012.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.