Araya is a name of uncertain origin that is used in several cultures: it is a Basque surname and place name in the province of Álava, a Thai girls' name, and for many American parents simply a melodic cousin of Aria and Arya, so it is usually given the borrowed meaning "air" or "melody". In the United States Araya entered the top 1000 at number 899 in 2022 and ranks number 1052 in 2025.