Aaliyah

عَالِيَة

Girl Arabic /ah-LEE-yah/ #85 in 2023

Aaliyah is a girl name of Arabic origin.

Meaning of Aaliyah

"Exalted, high, sublime." Feminine of Ali. Carries the same spiritual register as the divine attribute Al-ʿAlī ("the Most High").

Arabic root: ʿ-l-w — (ع-ل-و, elevation, highness)

Regional variants

One of the most-loved crossover Arabic names in the US — massively popular in African-American families since singer Aaliyah's rise in the 1990s. Consistently in the SSA top 100.

Popularity of Aaliyah

Popularity, 1976–2023

2,862 births in 2023

1976 2023

104,611 U.S. births recorded from 1976–2023. Used for both boys and girls — see notes below.

Peak year

2012

5,529 babies

First recorded

1976

47 years of history

Recent trend

Falling

Last 5 yrs vs. prior 5

Variants & nicknames

AliyahAliyaAlia

Related guide

Arabic Names That Work in English Without Explanation

25 Arabic names that American teachers, doctors, and neighbors pronounce correctly on the first try. For families who want heritage without the daily spelling bee.

Read the full guide →

Famous people named Aaliyah

Aaliyah (singer)

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.