Ayan

Ayan meaning

Ayan (अयन) is a Hindu and international boy's name of Sanskrit origin (Bengali usage). By its first sound, अ, it is a Mesh rashi name (Krittika nakshatra) in the North Indian table.

A road or path; the sun's course north or south; the half-year

Ayan (अयन, Bengali অয়ন) is the Sanskrit ayana, from the verb i, "to go". Monier-Williams gives it as walking, a road or path, and, in astronomy, the sun's course north or south of the equator, which also marks out the half-year. The familiar word uttarāyaṇa, the sun's northward journey, is built on it. The Samsad Bengali–English dictionary likewise gives অয়ন as a path, route or course, and the sun's course. Name lists give Ayan as "path", which matches the dictionaries. Ayan is a Bengali Hindu boys' name, said roughly "Oyon" in Bengali. It is a different name from Ayaan, a boys' name of uncertain origin, although both can be written Ayan in English. The film director Ayan Mukerji carries the name.

Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 84 · entry ayana · See the entry · checked 30 Oct 2026

References: Monier-Williams, ayana, p. 84 · Monier-Williams, uttarāyaṇa, p. 178 · Samsad Bengali–English Dictionary, অয়ন, p. 74 · Wikipedia, Ayan Mukerji

Famous namesakes

• Ayan Mukerji, Hindi film director (Wake Up Sid, Brahmastra)

Popularity abroad

• #762 United States, boys 2025 (up 115 from 877 in 2024)
  US Social Security Administration
• #201 England and Wales, boys 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Fits your syllable

First sound अ

Krittika nakshatra, pada 1 · Mesh rashi

North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.

Related names

Also meaning sun

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