Rya

An uncommon Swedish pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysSwedishRising fast Also a pet name
#1230 180in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A Scandinavian knotted-pile woollen rug, used as bed-cover and tapestry.

Rya is a girl's and boy's baby name of Scandinavian origin, from the Swedish and Norwegian rya, a traditional Scandinavian knotted-pile rug of great beauty, or a feminine variant of Rye, Ryan, or a short form of names like Marya or Zarya, meaning 'small, graceful' or 'dawn.'

Ultra-minimal and rare, Rya has the Scandinavian cool of names like Siv, Liv, and Saga. At just three letters it's among the shortest girl names in use today, making it a striking, memorable choice for parents who love radical simplicity with a Nordic aesthetic.

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Popularity Over Time

Rya climbed 2743 spots in the last 20 years — from #3973 to #1230.

04895143190198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Rya
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s660
2010s554
2000s370
1990s114
1980s38
1970s30

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(44 years, 19712024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Rya
YearBirthsRank
2024190#1230
2023159#1410
2022167#1380
202199#1976
202045#3437
201942#3657
201844#3547
201751#3185
201658#2929
201567#2677
201472#2512
201350#3256
201254#3126
201170#2581
201046#3505
200946#3556
200854#3152
200745#3645
200650#3301
200540#3715

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Rya as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Rya has also been given to 19 boys in the U.S. since 1982.

Unranked
Current rank
19
Total births
1986
Peak year
Compare Rya as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Rya be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Rya is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1230. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Rya has two lives

Rya, the baby name
#1230girls
1,766 babies
Currently viewing
Rya, the pet name
#21844pet name
2 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19712024) · Methodology