​
​
Advanced Search

Aaliyah

a-lee-uh; uh-lee-uh
Variation of Aliya, Arabic
"heavens, highborn, exalted"
Madison Dresler
By Madison Dresler
Updated Sun Mar 30 2025

Aaliyah Origin and Meaning

The name Aaliyah is a girl's name of Arabic origin meaning "heavens, highborn, exalted".

Both powerful and pretty, with a melodic sound, Aaliyah joins Layla, Lila, Dana, and Farrah as a name of Arabic origin that is also popular in the English-speaking world.

Back in 1993, the name was virtually unheard of in the US, given to only a tiny handful of girls each year. Then, the singer Aaliyah Haughton rose to fame, under her mononym "Aaliyah". Known as the "Princess of R&B", her debut album launched not only her career, but also her name.

By 1994, Aaliyah was in the Top 300, where it stayed until the tragic death of the singer in 2001. Rather than the name becoming associated with tragedy, it jumped into the US Top 100, where it has remained ever since. A feminine form of the Arabic name Aali, Aaliyah means "high, sublime, lofty" or "exalted." With its distinguished but approachable feel, Aaliyah has seen widespread usage, and as a result, has a number of spelling variants, including Aliyah, Aliyyah, Alia, Aleah, Aliye, and Aleia.

Distinctive but familiar, it is understandable why Aaliyah was able to break into the American charts. Given to over 3000 babies each year in the US, it also ranks highly in the UK and France, while other spelling variations are more popular across the world.

Boosted to fame by the singer and her legacy, and a reflection of today’s multicultural societies, Aaliyah remains an elegant and popular choice. If you are interested in Aaliyah, you could explore other Arabic names, such as Nadira, Amal, Anisa, or Munira. If it’s just the sound you like, then Tallulah, Alara, and Alodia might appeal.

# 86 in the US

Aaliyah Rank in US Top 1000

020040060080010002000201020202023
# 350 on Nameberry

Aaliyah Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

020040060080010002013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Popularity of the name Aaliyah

20 Names Similar to Aaliyah

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Aaliyah.

Famous People Named Aaliyah

  • Aaliyah Dana Haughton
    late American singer
  • Aaliyah Guyton (b. 2006)
    daughter of Brazilian basketball player Adriana Moisés Pinto and A.J. Guyton
  • Aaliyah Barrett
    daughter of NFL player Shaquil Barrett
  • Aaliyah Mulgrew
    daughter of Scottish footballer Charlie Mulgrew
  • Aaliyah Snow Ada
    daughter of Instagram blogger Emilee Hembrow

The name Aaliyah in Nameberry Forums