What does Mahsa mean?
Mahsa means “like the moon” in Persian.
What does Roya mean?
Roya means “dream” or “vision” in Persian.
Mahsa vs Roya
Which is more popular?
Roya is more popular than Mahsa today: about 76 US babies were given the name Roya in 2025, compared with 28 named Mahsa.
| Mahsa | Roya | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Like the moon | Dream, vision |
| Origin | Persian | Persian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MAH-sah | ROH-yah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1983 | 1955 |
| Peak year | 2022 (49) | 2025 (76) |
| In 2025 | 28 | 76 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Mahsa
Roya
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Mahsa | Roya |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 211 | 343 |
| 2010s | 67 | 392 |
| 2000s | 15 | 219 |
| 1990s | 46 | 275 |
| 1980s | 12 | 234 |
| 1970s | 0 | 99 |
| 1960s | 0 | 42 |
| 1950s | 0 | 19 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mahsa or Roya more popular?
Roya is more popular than Mahsa today: about 76 US babies were given the name Roya in 2025, compared with 28 named Mahsa.
What is the difference between Mahsa and Roya?
Mahsa means Like the moon (Persian origin), while Roya means Dream, vision (Persian origin).
Which name is older, Mahsa or Roya?
In US records, Mahsa first appears in 1983 and Roya in 1955, so Roya has the longer recorded history.