Aaliyah
How to say it: uh-LEE-uh · /əˈliə/
From Arabic 'aliya', meaning 'high, exalted, sublime'; also a Hebrew word meaning 'ascent' or 'going up to Israel'.
Aaliyah was the 45th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,607 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2010s, its births are down about 39% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #66 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #45 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 2,607 |
| Share of births | 1 in 619 |
| Peak decade | 2010s |
| Change over 10 years | −39% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #66 |
| In France, 2025 | #3 among girls’ names, 305 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Emerging only in recent decades, Aaliyah crested in the 2010s. Hovering near that height today, a gentle decline appears ahead.
What goes with it
Gentle and flowing with soft sounds throughout. Anaya pairs nicely in style, as does Layla.
Middle names that flow with Aaliyah →
Nicknames
- Ali
- Lia
- Aliya
Honouring a Aaliyah in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Aaliyah is about 1 in 26.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Hebrew.
In France: #3 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #132. Ireland: #226.
Famous people named Aaliyah
- Aaliyah (1979–2001)American R&B singer
- Aaliyah Butler (born 2003)American athlete
- Aaliyah Brown (born 1995)American athlete
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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