Fun Facts About the Name Arai
- 86 babies named Arai: U.S. records list 86 babies given the name Arai from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 boys received the name Arai - about 1 boy for every 16 girls.
What Does the Name Arai Mean?
Arai is a feminine given name of Turkic origin, used mainly in Kazakhstan. It comes from the Kazakh word arai (арай), which means "dawn" or "twilight". The same element appears in the longer Kazakh name Arailym, where it is combined with a possessive suffix meaning "my".
The form Arai is also a Japanese surname. That is a separate name with different origins. As a Japanese surname, it is written with various kanji, including 新井 ("new well") and 荒井 ("rough well"). It is not traditionally used as a given name in Japan.
Arai Name History & Origins
Arai has been used as a feminine name in Kazakhstan. It belongs to the Turkic layer of Kazakh names, which often come from words for natural phenomena. The name is also used in the longer form Arailym. It is a traditional name, and there is no widely documented historical event or literary work that is known to have introduced it.
The Japanese surname Arai is a separate development. Japanese surnames were often taken from place names, and Arai is found as a place name and family name. The kanji 新井 means "new well", while 荒井 means "rough well" or "wild well". A rarer writing is 新居, meaning "new residence". The surname appears in historical records. A notable bearer was Arai Hakuseki (1657 - 1725), a Confucian scholar and advisor in the Tokugawa shogunate.
How Popular is the Name Arai?
Arai has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #10,319 in 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,036 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #10,319 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #15,407 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #13,992 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #12,850 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #16,508 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #14,703 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,312 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #17,155 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #15,460 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #15,609 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #15,689 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #15,582 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,171 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Arai
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with A
Short Girl Names That Start with A
How the Name Arai Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Arai's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Arai's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.