Aras is an ancient Lithuanian word for "eagle" and is mostly found in ancient folk songs and legends. In ancient culture of pagan Lithuania, eagle was the bird of warriors and soldiers, therefore the bearers of the name are supposed to be of proud, strong and brave personality.
- https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aras_(reik%C5%A1m%C4%97s) (in Lithuanian; mentions that 'Aras' is a poetic Lithuanian word for "eagle")
- https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erelis (in Lithuanian)
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/erelis (in English)
- https://translate.google.com/#lt/en/erelis (in English)
I would also like to note that the given name Aras is not always derived from Lithuanian 'Aras' meaning "eagle": sometimes it is a short form of masculine given names (both Lithuanian and foreign) that start with Ar-, such as: Arbutas, Argaudas, Aristėjas, Aristidas, and so on.
For additional information about the name Aras, please see:
- https://www.tevu-darzelis.lt/vaiku-vardai/Aras/ (in Lithuanian)
- http://www.vardai.org/vardo-reiksme/Aras/ (in Lithuanian)
- http://day.lt/vardai/Aras (in Lithuanian)
- http://vardai.vlkk.lt/vardas/Aras (in Lithuanian; mentions that the name can also be a "trumpinys", namely a short form). [noted -ed]