Declining since 2022, #1,777 for girls today.
Popularity of Jalayah since 1994
Babies named Jalayah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 17 |
| 2000s | 322 |
| 2010s | 1,089 |
| 2020s | 809 |
Meaning & origin
Jalayah is a modern American name first recorded in 1994, reflecting a broader trend of creative, melodic names in African American communities. Its peak year was 2022, when it reached its highest rank, but it has been declining in use since then, with a trajectory showing falling popularity. In 2025, it ranked 1,777th, with approximately 1 in 14,224 girls receiving the name. The name saw the most usage in Mississippi, Michigan, and Virginia, indicating regional appeal in the South and Midwest. Jalayah stands as an example of how contemporary naming practices blend familiar sounds and suffixes to craft distinctive identities.
Jalayah is a modern American coinage, likely blending the popular prefix 'Ja-' with the fashionable '-ayah' suffix found in names like Aaliyah. It emerged in the United States in the late 20th century, reflecting a trend of creating distinctive, melodic names with phonetic appeal.
Where Jalayah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Jala, Jay, Layah
Sibling names for Jalayah
Names that share Jalayah's style, for a brother or sister.
