Arya is an unusual and exotic name on the rise thanks to a popular book and television series. She entered the popularity charts in 2010 and then jumped 529 places the following two years -- now at Number 277, it's one of the fastest-rising names of recent.
The prime impetus is the fiercely independent young character Arya Stark in the TV series Game of Thrones, based on the George R. R. Martin books A Song of Fire and Ice. Another influence is the Elven princess in Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle trilogy, basis of the movie Eragon.
The name resembles the musical Aria, which is also growing in popularity.