Rising since 1994, #392 for girls today.
Popularity of Kaliyah since 1994
Babies named Kaliyah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 391 |
| 2000s | 3,420 |
| 2010s | 5,473 |
| 2020s | 3,662 |
Meaning & origin
Kaliyah emerged on the U.S. naming scene in 1994, a relative newcomer that has climbed steadily. In 2025 it reached its peak rank of 392, with a frequency of 1 in 2,032 births, and its trajectory has been consistently rising since its debut. The name is most popular in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Nevada, reflecting a Southern and Western preference for this modern, melodic coinage. Like many names ending in 'ah', Kaliyah fits a contemporary trend of soft, feminine sounds, but it lacks a deep history or established meaning, making it a purely modern invention.
Kaliyah is a modern American coinage, likely formed from the popular prefix Ka- combined with the fashionable suffix -liyah, as seen in names like Aaliyah. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1994 and has rapidly risen in usage, reflecting the trend for melodic, feminine names ending in 'ah'.
Where Kaliyah is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Kaliyah” around the world
Where Kaliyah lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kali, Kay
Sibling names for Kaliyah
Names that share Kaliyah's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Kaliyah
Names whose popularity has moved with Kaliyah's over the last 50 years.
