Declining since 2022, #1,592 for girls today.
Popularity of Alaiyah since 1994
Babies named Alaiyah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 38 |
| 2000s | 230 |
| 2010s | 845 |
| 2020s | 1,002 |
Meaning & origin
Alaiyah is a modern English respelling of the more established Aaliyah, a name that rose to prominence in the United States after the singer Aaliyah (1979-2001). First recorded in 1994, Alaiyah saw its peak popularity in 2021 but has since experienced a modest decline. In 2025, it ranked 1592, with roughly 1 in 12,269 newborn girls receiving the name. The spelling is most common in South Carolina, Arizona, and Florida, suggesting regional preferences for creative variants. Alaiyah fits a broader trend of names ending in the 'ee-uh' sound, alongside Maya, Layla, and Zara. While its etymology ties to the Arabic root for 'to ascend,' the specific spelling Alaiyah is a distinctly American innovation, combining familiar sounds with a fashionable suffix.
Alaiyah is a modern spelling variant of Aliyah or Aaliyah, names that derive from the Arabic root 'aly, meaning 'to ascend' or 'to be high.' The name Aaliyah gained popularity in the United States after the singer Aaliyah (1979-2001), inspiring creative respellings like Alaiyah. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in the 1990s.
Where Alaiyah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ali, Yaya, Leah
Sibling names for Alaiyah
Names that share Alaiyah's style, for a brother or sister.
