Alaia
How to say it: uh-LY-uh · /əˈlaɪə/
From Basque meaning 'joyful' or 'happy'; also found in Arabic contexts.
Alaia was the 60th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 2,318 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up 2.8-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #29 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 | #60 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 2,318 |
| Share of births | 1 in 725 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | ×2.8 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #29 |
| In France, 2025 | #348 among girls’ names, 90 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Alaia arrived in recent decades and grew quickly to the top. Now at its height in the 2020s, further growth looks likely.
What goes with it
Soft and liquid across three syllables, Alaia feels gentle and easy across borders. Aria shares its airy style.
Middle names that flow with Alaia →
Nicknames
- Lai
- Ala
- Laia
Honouring a Alaia in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Alaia is about 1 in 31.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Arabic, English, French, Spanish.
In France: #348 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #279.
Keep exploring
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