Ariana
Ariana was the 128th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 2,219 babies. Its best year was 2014, when it ranked 37th with 5,504 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 82 places. More babies were named Ariana in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Greek
Say it ar-ee-AH-nuh /ˌɑriˈɑnə/
- Rank in 2025
- #128 girls, down 49 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,219girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20145,504 babies
- Total since 1880
- 120,580babies recorded
What does the name Ariana mean?
Ariana is a modern simplification of Arianna and Ariane, which are forms of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete in Greek myth. Wiktionary and Wikipedia report the traditional analysis of Ariadne as Cretan Greek ari-, 'most', and adnos, 'holy', but that reading is not certain. Wiktionary also notes a separate Latin Ariana for an ancient region of Iran and a folk link with Welsh arian, 'silver'. It is often confused with Adriana.
Ἀριάδνη (Ancient Greek, “Ariadne”)ἀρι- (Ancient Greek (Cretan), “most (traditional analysis)”)ἁγνός (Ancient Greek, “holy, pure (compare)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. 'Most holy' is the traditional reading of Ariadne; it is not securely established.
Other explanations you may read: From Welsh arian 'silver'.
Related names: Arianna, Ariane, Ariadne, Aria, Arianne.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ariana', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ariadne', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Ariana (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Nicknames for Ariana
The usual nicknames for Ariana are Ari. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 girls named Ariana in the last five years, 23 were named Ari, against 2 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Girls, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ari · also for Ariella, Ariel | Modern | #614 | 3,092 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are girls given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Arianas go by each one.
Ariana popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 200 since 1981.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #128 | 2,219 |
| 2020 | #79 | 3,175 |
| 2010 | #84 | 3,477 |
| 2000 | #109 | 3,153 |
| 1990 | #228 | 1,259 |
| 1980 | #598 | 311 |
| 1970 | #1,952 | 43 |
| 1960 | #6,427 | 5 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Ariana, counting every spelling?
Ariana is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #82 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #128 for Ariana on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,571 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ariana | 2,219 | #128 | 13,357 |
| Arianna | 1,323 | #234 | 8,098 |
| Ariannah | 7 | #12,049 | 64 |
| Arianah | 11 | #8,929 | 47 |
| Aariana | 5 | #14,952 | 45 |
| Arrianna | 6 | #13,373 | 25 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Ariana?
2,219 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ariana (0.62 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Ariana born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 4 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ariana.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ariana?
About 119,100 people born in the US named Ariana are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 10 and 25. That makes Ariana mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ariana by state
How common Ariana was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in District of Columbia (2.4×), New Mexico (2.0×), Nevada (2.0×), Delaware (1.8×), California (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in South Dakota, North Dakota, Maine.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ariana: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ariana, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Ariana · Sibling names for Ariana
Questions about the name Ariana
What does Ariana mean?
The origin of Ariana is uncertain: 'Most holy' is the traditional reading of Ariadne; it is not securely established.
How popular is the name Ariana?
Ariana was the 128th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 2,219 babies. Its best year was 2014, when it ranked 37th with 5,504 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 82 places. More babies were named Ariana in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Ariana a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Ariana in the US.
Where is Ariana most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ariana was most common in District of Columbia (3.96 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Mexico and Nevada.