Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Arwa
GirlArabic· “female mountain goat”
- Meaning
- female mountain goat
- Origin
- Arabic
- Pronunciation
- AHR-wuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,944
- US babies 2025
- 99
- Best rank
- #1,944 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Arwa
Arwa is an Arabic name that means “female mountain goat”.
Arwa is an Arabic name for a female mountain goat, an animal admired in Arabic poetry for its grace and sure footing on steep slopes. The name has a notable historical bearer in Arwa al-Sulayhi, a queen who ruled in Yemen during the eleventh and early twelfth centuries and is remembered for her long reign and building works. Arwa is used across the Arab world and in Muslim communities elsewhere, and it is said AHR-wuh. It is short and uncommon in the United States, with a meaning drawn from nature rather than abstract virtue. Reem, the Arabic word for a white gazelle, is a similar animal-inspired choice.
Popularity over time
Arwa first appears in US Social Security records in 1975. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #1,944, and its highest count, 99 babies. Use has grown 120% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #8,232 in 1980, #6,237 in 2000, #4,320 in 2010, and #1,944 in 2025. Of the 1,401 US girls named Arwa since records began, 34% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 468 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Aziyah, Sianna, Maisey, Elisheva, and Abilene.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Arwa ranked highest in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Arwa is usually pronounced AHR-wuh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with A and ends in “-wa”.
Middle names for Arwa
A few middle names that flow with Arwa: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Arwa
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Lists that include Arwa
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Arwa mean?
Arwa is an Arabic name that means “female mountain goat”.
What is the origin of the name Arwa?
Arwa has Arabic roots. Arwa is an Arabic name for a female mountain goat, an animal admired in Arabic poetry for its grace and sure footing on steep slopes.
Is Arwa a popular name?
Not especially. Arwa ranked #1,944 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Arwa a boy or girl name?
Arwa is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Arwa?
Arwa is usually pronounced AHR-wuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings