What does Roya mean?
Roya means “dream” or “vision” in Persian.
What does Darya mean?
From Persian daryā meaning 'sea' or 'large body of water'. Distinct from Daria (feminine of Darius), though the two are often confused.
Roya vs Darya
Which is more popular?
Roya is more popular than Darya today: about 76 US babies were given the name Roya in 2025, compared with 43 named Darya.
| Roya | Darya | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Dream, vision | The sea |
| Origin | Persian | persian |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ROH-yah | DAHR-yah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1955 | 1961 |
| Peak year | 2025 (76) | 2007 (50) |
| In 2025 | 76 | 43 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Roya
Darya
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Roya | Darya |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 343 | 253 |
| 2010s | 392 | 387 |
| 2000s | 219 | 358 |
| 1990s | 275 | 198 |
| 1980s | 234 | 52 |
| 1970s | 99 | 81 |
| 1960s | 42 | 31 |
| 1950s | 19 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Roya or Darya more popular?
Roya is more popular than Darya today: about 76 US babies were given the name Roya in 2025, compared with 43 named Darya.
What is the difference between Roya and Darya?
Roya means Dream, vision (Persian origin), while Darya means The sea (persian origin).
Which name is older, Roya or Darya?
In US records, Roya first appears in 1955 and Darya in 1961, so Roya has the longer recorded history.