Dua
Meaningprayer · Arabic
Dua is an Arabic girl name meaning “prayer”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationDua is having its moment right now. Most Duas are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Dua would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 6,959 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryDua first shows up in US birth records in 1993, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 32 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Duas? Head to Connecticut, where it's the #322 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1993–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Dua
Dua is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “prayer”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Arabic names
Other spellings of Dua
More Arabic girl names
- Girl name: Eleanor · possibly light
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Girl name: Lyla · night
- Girl name: Aaliyah · exalted
- Girl name: Amira · princess
- Girl name: Lilly · lily flower
- Girl name: Leila · night
- Girl name: Aliyah · ascent
Questions about the name Dua
What does the name Dua mean?
Dua means “prayer” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Arabella (“possibly yielding to prayer”), Duaa (“prayer, supplication”), Prarthana (“prayer”) and Doaa (“prayer, supplication”).
What is the origin of the name Dua?
Dua is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).
Is Dua a boy or girl name?
Dua is a girl name. In 2025, 231 US girls were named Dua.
How popular is the name Dua?
Dua ranked #1,060 for US girls in 2025, given to 231 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 945 places.
What names are similar to Dua?
If you like Dua, you might also like Duaa, Arabella, Prarthana and Doaa. Duaa is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Dua?
Dua is an Arabic girl name meaning “prayer”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.