Given name & surname · also Greek
Asia
“resurrection”
Asia is used as a given name, a surname, and a nickname. Interpretations include “resurrection” and “the rising sun; a woman from the East; in the Koran, the woman who raised Moses”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Original GreekΆσια
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “resurrection” and “the rising sun; a woman from the East; in the Koran, the woman who raised Moses”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Greek and English naming traditions. The precise derivation is uncertain.
How it developed
In Polish usage, Asia is a diminutive of Joanna.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1945. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Polish use, Asia is a diminutive of Joanna. The history of Joanna gives this family its wider story. Joanna was in use during the Middle Ages.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Asia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 32,687
- 196 boys · 32,491 girls
- Most popular year
- 1997
- 1,540 babies
- 2025
- 84
- #2,197 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −38%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 84 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,197 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 38.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,532 in 1997. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 28,073 as a first name in 2020; 372 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.
Asia’s family of names
In Polish usage, Asia is a diminutive of Joanna. In Italian usage, Asia has a later derivative in Asya. In German usage, Asia has a related form in Johanna.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Asia has relatives in 6 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
11 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 14
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 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Asia
- Asia ArgentoItalian actress and filmmaker (born 1975)
- Asia Ramazan AntarKurdish Fighter, Feminist and Soldier1997–2016
- Asia MuhammadUS American tennis playerborn 1991
- Asia Kate DillonAmerican actor and producerborn 1984
- Asia BibiPakistani woman accused of blasphemyborn 1971
- Asia NitollanoAmerican musicianborn 1988
- Asia AlfasiLibyan-British comic writer and artistborn 1984
- Asia VieiraCanadian actressborn 1982
- Asia D'AmatoItalian artistic gymnastborn 2003
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Asia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Thalia
“flourish, to be verdant”
>99% girls
Alexandria
“Alexander” · “-ia: forming place names”
>99% girls
Alexa
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls
Kassandra
“an unheeded prophetess”
>99% girls
Sabrina
“a legendary princess”
>99% girls
Kassidy
“a curly-haired man”
3% boys · 97% girls
Essence
“a perfumed woman”
1% boys · 99% girls
Aida
“one who is wealthy; prosperous” · “one who is helpful”
>99% girls