Fun Facts About the Name Iraya
- 16 babies named Iraya: U.S. records list 16 babies given the name Iraya from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Iraya Mean?
Iraya is a rare given name whose meaning is not firmly established. Its clearest documented life is in the Philippines, where Iraya is the name of an indigenous people of Mindoro and of their language, and also of Mount Iraya, the active volcano on Batan Island in the province of Batanes. Because the same word serves as an ethnonym and a place name as well as a personal name, no single agreed root or literal translation can be given for it.
Sanskrit irā (इरा) means "earth," "water," or "speech" and is used as a name of the goddess Sarasvatī. The resemblance between that word and Iraya is sometimes treated as a derivation, but no documented line connects the two, and similarity of sound alone does not establish a shared origin. The Basque feminine name Iraia, which is spelled almost the same way, is a separate name and is not evidence for the meaning of Iraya.
Iraya Name History & Origins
The Iraya are one of the Mangyan peoples of Mindoro in the Philippines and live mainly in the northern part of the island. Their language, also called Iraya, belongs with the other Northern Mindoro (North Mangyan) languages of the central Philippine group. The name is attached as well to Mount Iraya, the volcano on Batan Island in Batanes, and to localities in the Philippines that carry the same word.
Use of Iraya as a personal name cannot be traced separately from these uses, and it is uncertain whether the given name grew out of the ethnonym, out of a place name, or out of an independent word. No early written form, first recorded bearer, or dated shift from common word to given name is established. In the Philippines the name is used for girls, but the historical record does not show when that use began.
How Popular is the Name Iraya?
Iraya 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 2025. Its best rank was #9,718 in 2025.
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 | #9,718 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #14,085 | 6 | 0.0004% |
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.
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How the Name Iraya Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You like to use the pen or the needle (writing, fashion design etc). You are loving, compassionate, intuitive and humanitarian. Runs of luck, either good or bad, follow you. You are sympathetic, but at times might be touchy and oversensitive. You may have a gift for writing. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Iraya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Iraya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.