Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Aja isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
In mythological stories, Aja is associated with a patroness of the forest, animals, and healers.
Aja through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,404
- 90 boys · 8,314 girls
- Most popular year
- 1978
- 510 babies
- 2025
- 44
- #3,461 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −29%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 44 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,461 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 28.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 491 in 1978. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,142 as a first name in 2020; 497 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Aja’s family of names
In English usage, Aja has a related form in Aya. Aja has a related form in Ajah. Aja has a related form in Ajae.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Aja
- Aja EvansAmerican bobsledderborn 1988
- Aja VolkmanAmerican singerborn 1980
- Aja BrownAmerican mayorborn 1982
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Aja, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Zana
“one having great fame”
>99% girls
Laima
“luck”
>99% girls
Valda
“spirited in battle” · “famous ruler”
>99% girls
Deanda
Deanda is a surname from Spanish, ultimately from Basque.
>99% girls
Pinga
>99% girls
Salina
“one of a solemn, dignified character”
>99% girls
Nortia
>99% girls
Vellamo
“to surge, swell (like the waves)”
>99% girls