Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Priyanka
GirlSanskrit, Hindi· “dear, beloved”
- Meaning
- dear, beloved
- Origin
- Sanskrit, Hindi
- Pronunciation
- pree-YAHNG-kuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #14,518
- US babies 2025
- 6
- Best rank
- #1,787 (1996)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Priyanka
Priyanka is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “dear, beloved”.
Priyanka is a Sanskrit name usually glossed as "dear" or "beloved," built on priya, meaning dear or loved. It is used across India among Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and other language communities, and it has spread with Indian families around the world. It is said pree-YAHNG-kuh, with the stress on the middle syllable and a nasal ng before the k. Well-known bearers include the actress Priyanka Chopra and the politician Priyanka Gandhi. Priya, from the same root, is the natural everyday form and is also a full name in its own right. The name is phonetic in English spelling, so most people read it correctly on first sight.
Popularity over time
Priyanka first appears in US Social Security records in 1983. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,787 in 1996, and the most babies received it in 1998, when 84 were named Priyanka. In 2025, 6 babies were named Priyanka, and it ranked #14,518 nationally. That is 80% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,590 in 2000, #4,014 in 2010, and #14,518 in 2025. Of the 1,790 US girls named Priyanka since records began, 39% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 592 babies. Since 2010, 344 more have been named Priyanka.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Liset, Mykenzie, Takia, Keiara, and Bayli.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Priyanka is usually pronounced pree-YAHNG-kuh, with two syllables. It has eight letters, starts with P and ends in “-ka”.
Middle names for Priyanka
A few middle names that flow with Priyanka: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Priyanka
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Lists that include Priyanka
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Priyanka mean?
Priyanka is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “dear, beloved”.
What is the origin of the name Priyanka?
Priyanka has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Priyanka is a Sanskrit name usually glossed as "dear" or "beloved," built on priya, meaning dear or loved.
Is Priyanka a popular name?
Not especially. Priyanka ranked #14,518 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Priyanka a boy or girl name?
Priyanka is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Priyanka?
Priyanka is usually pronounced pree-YAHNG-kuh. 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