Asia [asia] as a girls' name is pronounced AY-zhah. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Asia is sunrise. May also derive from Assyrian asu meaning east. Modern name, usually used in reference to the continent. Also sometimes used as a short form of a name ending with -ia, such as Aspasia. According to the Koran, Asia was the name of the Pharoah's wife who raised the infant Moses. Asia is also a variant of Aisha, the name of Muhammad's favorite wife, one of the four perfect women. See also Fatima, Khadija, and Mary.