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Aya

Girl name · 79 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Aya: 79 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 9 births in 2019.

Aya is a name with beautiful origins across cultures, most familiar to English and Scottish speakers through its Japanese meaning of “colourful” or “design”, and its Hebrew root meaning “to fly swiftly” or “bird”, as in the wild falcon mentioned in the Bible. The name also holds deep significance in Arabic as “sign” or “miracle”, often chosen for its spiritual resonance. Notable bearers include American actress Aya Cash, known for *You’re the Worst*, and Japanese model and actress Aya Kashima. While no major places bear the name directly, its palindrome structure makes it pleasingly symmetrical, and it has steadily grown in popularity as a cross-cultural choice, appearing in Scotland’s baby name records since the late 20th century.