Ariana

Few names manage to so perfectly hit that sweet spot between modern elegance and timeless classic quite like Ariana. Said to be primarily a Portuguese form of the Greek Ariadne, Ariana is a name for girls that blesses your child with the highest of praise. Stemming from the Greek prefix ἀρι (ari), meaning "most," and the Cretan Greek word ἀδνός (adnos) meaning "holy" or "sacred," Ariana places your child in league with the angels with its meaning "most holy."

But Ariana's song doesn't end there. Some liken it to the Italian word aria, which translates to "air" and is the name given to a solo vocal melody in classical opera. Others consider Ariana an elongated form of arian, which means "silver" in Welsh or "gold" in Albanian. Each of these potential origins rock an elemental appeal.

Ariana's most popular go-to nickname is probably Ari, but there's still room for baby to express themselves. The Bump member SweetBaby2004 shared how their Ariana chose her ideal nickname: "We started calling her Ari, but she recently decided she wants to be called Anna (pronounced "ah-na") as a nickname, so we do." A name like Ariana has star power, contemporary charm, and sophistication all in one, while embodying the sweet, luxurious vibes of silk, soft lighting, and romantic marble staircases.

Fun Facts About the Name Ariana

• Ariana's link to classical mythology: Ariana derives from Ariadne, a name borne by a Cretan princess in Greek mythology. Ariadne helped Theseus escape the Minotaur's labyrinth by gifting him a ball of thread. In classic Greek hero fashion, Theseus subsequently abandoned Ariadne on the island of Naxos. The Greek god Dionysus found her, fell in love, and they got married. He granted her immortality and placed her jeweled bridal crown into the heavens for all to see as the constellation Corona Borealis.
• Pop princess prestige: You've likely heard the name Ariana in relation to all things music and film thanks to singer and actress Ariana Grande-Butera. It's said her parents chose the name Ariana because they were inspired by Princess Oriana from the cartoon Felix the Cat.
• Ariana's ultimate year in the spotlight: According to Social Security Administration (SSA) data, Ariana entered the US baby names scene in 1957 and has steadily climbed the charts ever since. As of 2025, Ariana's peak was in 2014, where it reached #37.