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Name · Sanskrit

प्रिया

Priya

(priyā)

Beloved; the dear one; one who brings joy

Full Meaning

Priyā means "dear, beloved, pleasing, cherished." From the same root as "pleasure" and "joy." Every time someone says this name, they are literally saying "the beloved one." It is one of the most common Sanskrit names in India precisely because its meaning is embedded so directly in its syllables.

Etymology

From the root prī (प्री) — to please, to love, to be joyful, to gratify. Priyā is "the one who brings joy" or "the beloved one."

Usage in Sanskrit Texts

Priyā appears in Sanskrit literature as an epithet of Lakshmi (beloved of Vishnu) and Sita (beloved of Rama). In everyday usage, it is one of the most warmly resonant names in Sanskrit.

प्रिया — The beloved. A name that is also a complete sentence: "You are dear."

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