We love this old and beautiful name but are concerned about there being too much connection to game of thrones. Any thoughts?
Spelling the name with a “y” is completely tied to the Game of Thrones. Spelling it correctly as [name_f]Aria[/name_f] would pretty well eliminate that association and take it into the musical realm. [name_f]Aria[/name_f] is old. [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is not. Another reason I don’t like Arya: it’s too similar to the word “Aryan”, the “white supremacy” philosophy which became prominent in the Hitler and Nazi era.
Yep. All of this.
I agree with mischa. [name_f]Aria[/name_f] has a brilliant musical connection, [name_u]Arya[/name_u] has a Game of Thrones connection.
I don’t think [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is completely tied to GoT. [name_u]Arya[/name_u] (this spelling) is a very old sanskrit name with its own history. Many people will still associate it with the character from GoT, but at least she is a pretty awesome character.
Ditto with [name_u]Mischa[/name_u]. From my recollection, [name_u]Arya[/name_u] was also a major character in the Eragon books.
Huh, I didn’t know this. That’s pretty cool 
[name_u]Arya[/name_u] makes me think of Game of Thrones before anything else, but it wouldn’t stop me if I wanted to use the name. [name_u]Arya[/name_u] wasn’t invented for ASOIAF, it’s an exotic name that came under the spotlight because of the success of the series. I suppose the strong association will fade with time.
Unfortunately [name_u]Arya[/name_u] also reminds me of the word “[name_m]Aryan[/name_m]”, but I don’t really think it’s a problem since it seems like most people wouldn’t make the connection (I’ve made a poll on this topic, you can see the results here).
Thanks everyone for your replies…i may create a post will our full list for opinions tomorrow…
I prefer [name_u]Arya[/name_u]. I like the 2 syllable ar-ya, as opposed to ar-ee-ah.
According to behind the name, [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is a Sanskrit name meaning “honourable” or “noble”. I think it’s lovely, and I’m not a fan of [name_f]Aria[/name_f] (if [name_u]Arya[/name_u]'s getting turned down for GoT, then technically, [name_f]Aria[/name_f] is linked relatively strongly to Pretty [name_m]Little[/name_m] Liars).
You also might like [name_f]Ayla[/name_f] (Turkish name meaning ‘moonlight’ or ‘halo’) or [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] 
Perhaps I should clarify my remarks for [name_f]Aria[/name_f] (old) vs. [name_u]Arya[/name_u] (new) as they seem to have caused some confusion. I’m referring to English speaking nations. Yes, [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is a Sanskrit name but how many people in the general population would know that fact? [name_u]Arya[/name_u] only entered the US in 2010 at No# 942 and is now at No# 277 so it’s relatively new in the [name_u]West[/name_u]. The best-selling books “A Song of [name_m]Fire[/name_m] and Ice” by [name_m]George[/name_m] R. R. [name_m]Martin[/name_m] were published in 1996 and the TV show begin in 2011. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think people are naming their girls [name_u]Arya[/name_u] because it’s a Sanskrit name or is its meteoric rise due to the phenomenal success of the books and TV show? The [name_f]Aria[/name_f] spelling entered the charts a little earlier in the year 2000 and is now at No# 40 and that’s why I referred to it as “old”. Of course, it’s also a well-known term in the opera world for many years. I hazard to guess that [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is trending due to popular culture rather than any cultural association.
I agree with all of this. [name_f]Aria[/name_f] is beautiful when spelled this way.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, mischa. I agree 100% with what you said.
To the OP, coming from an [name_f]Aria[/name_f], I beg of you not to spell it [name_u]Arya[/name_u]. [name_f]My[/name_f] name gets mispronounced and misspelled enough as it is. Haha.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] with the [name_f]Aria[/name_f] spelling, this is how a lot my conversations go:
Someone: What’s your name?
Me: [name_f]Aria[/name_f]
Someone: Oh like Game of Thrones?
Me: (laughing) Yes, but spelled the right way with an I, not a Y.
Good thing I really enjoy GoT…otherwise I would be beyond sick of that question. And despite its surging popularity, I can assure you that it is a beautiful name that I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] to have.
Good luck!
I pronounce [name_f]Aria[/name_f] and [name_u]Arya[/name_u] differently, I don’t see them as correct and incorrect spellings of the same name at all. That said, I think [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is way too associated with GoT to be used by anyone who isn’t completely thrilled by that connection.
I also think it is very dangerous to name your child something so strongly associated with a series that hasn’t ended yet. Who knows what will happen to [name_u]Arya[/name_u] by the end?
Thank you all, you have confirmed my fears…Though [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is my favorite character from GoT, I didn’t necessarily want my daughter to have to deal with that association for years to come, for her sake…
I think it’s a lovely name either way, and I definitely don’t think [name_u]Arya[/name_u] is an incorrect spelling of [name_f]Aria[/name_f]. They are different names however close they may be. Personally I would use the name with no reservation about the GoT association. I don’t consider myself a mega-fan, though I do watch the show. But I think it’s a beautiful name, and fits right in with all the other names of today (unlike, say, [name_f]Khaleesi[/name_f])–so I don’t think an [name_u]Arya[/name_u] would feel out of place or pigeon-holed at all. [name_f]My[/name_f] guess is, as with most children with literary names or who happen to share a name with a celebrity, an [name_u]Arya[/name_u] would make the name her own.
I really like [name_u]Arya[/name_u] and I actually prefer it to [name_f]Aria[/name_f]. I think some people will think of Game of Thrones but it’s not like it’s a name that’s been made for the books/TV show. It’s not the same as calling a child [name_f]Khaleesi[/name_f], it’s got it’s own history and origins as much as [name_f]Aria[/name_f] and can stand on its own away from associations with GoT.
[name_f]EDIT[/name_f]: [name_m]Just[/name_m] seen the pp, I agree! That’s what I was trying to say
I think that they are two different names, but both are very nice. If you prefer the two syllable one, then that’s the one you should use. Yes, [name_u]Arya[/name_u] has a pop culture connection, but it also fits in with other currently popular names. Its not like naming your baby Yoda or [name_m]Obi[/name_m]-Wan.
Agree with others. Lose the “y.” [name_f]My[/name_f] first thought is [name_m]Aryan[/name_m] when I seen it spelled that way. Horrible.