Arizona
Arizona: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌæɹɪˈzoʊnə/ · /ˌɛɹɪˈzoʊnə/
Meaning and origin of Arizona
- A unisex given name.
Etymology
Uncertain. Possibly from O'odham alĭ ṣonak (literally “small spring”) (traditionally through the Spanish intermediary form Arizonac; compare modern Arizona), a name initially applied to an area around a silver-mining camp in Sonora. Alternatively, perhaps from Basque haritz ona (literally “good oak”), as the area had many Basque herders, and a descendant of them established the ranchería of Arizona (circa 1735) in Sonora. Suggestions of derivation from *arizuma, supposedly a Nahuatl word meaning “silver-bearing”, are considered implausible, and derivation from árida zona (literally “dry zone”) is considered a folk etymology.
How popular is Arizona?
Since 1880, 3,542 girls and 153 boys in the U.S. have been named Arizona (96% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #510 in 1882. Its highest rank for boys was #4230 in 1925. In 2025, 86 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Arizona
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Arizona
Names that peaked around the same time as Arizona and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Arizona FAQ
What does the name Arizona mean?
A unisex given name. Uncertain. Possibly from O'odham alĭ ṣonak (literally “small spring”) (traditionally through the Spanish intermediary form Arizonac; compare modern Arizona), a name initially applied to an area around a silver-mining camp in Sonora. Alternatively, perhaps from Basque haritz ona (literally “good oak”), as the area had many Basque herders, and a descendant of them established the ranchería of Arizona (circa 1735) in Sonora. Suggestions of derivation from *arizuma, supposedly a Nahuatl word meaning “silver-bearing”, are considered implausible, and derivation from árida zona (literally “dry zone”) is considered a folk etymology.
How popular is the name Arizona?
Since 1880, 3,542 girls and 153 boys in the U.S. have been named Arizona (96% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #510 in 1882. Its highest rank for boys was #4230 in 1925. In 2025, 86 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Arizona a boy or girl name?
Arizona is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 3,542 girls and 153 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.