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 [ 2 syll. a-sia, as-ia ] The girl name Asia is pronounced EYZHah KEY. Asia's origin is Arabic, English, and Hebrew, and its use, English and Polish. Arabic, English, and Hebrew origin, English use: From Asia ; asu 'to rise, east'. The first name is derived from the name of the continent, which could be itself from the Assyrian asu ('to rise, east'), in reference to the rising of the sun in the east. In Greek mythology, the name was borne a Nereid or sea nymph, and by a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. In addition, Asia is a variant form of the Arabic and English Aisha in the English language. Asia is also a variant form of the English Jane in the Polish language. Asia is also a pet form of the Czech, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, German, Hungarian, and Scandinavian Johanna in the Polish language. Asia is fairly popular as a baby name for girls. The name grew in popularity from the 1970s up to the 1990s; prior to that, it was of only irregular use. At the modest height of its usage in 1997, 0.080% of baby girls were named Asia. Its ranking then was #195. The baby name has since experienced a drop in frequency. In 2008, it ranked at #386 with a usage of 0.040%, but it was nevertheless the most popular within all girl names in its group. Asia was more frequently used than the 2nd most popular name, the English Jane, by 0.503% in 2008. Baby names that sound like Asia include the Japanese Aiko, the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Russian Asya, the Greek Echo, the Finnish, Hungarian, and Scandinavian Eija, the Fante Ekua, the Fante Esi, the English Essa, the English Essi, the English Essie, the English Essy, the Vietnamese Ha, the English Su, the Arabic and English Ayisha, the Arabic Ayishah, the name Ayoka, the Turkish Ayse, the Hawaiian Ekika, the African Eshe, the English Ess, and the Arabic and English Aisia. A famous person named Asia is Actress Asia Argento, born Asia Aria Anna Maria Vittoria Rossa Argento, 20 September 1975, Rome, Italy. KEY: Pronunciation for Asia: EY as in "ate (EY.T)" ; ZH as in "seizure (S.IY.ZH.ER)" ; AH as in "hut (HH.AH.T)"   |
