NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Aaliya

Of Arabic origin, signifying lofty, exalted or elevated.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Aaliya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aaliya popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #980, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 42 births.

This profile covers 775 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 775 living people in the UK are called Aaliya. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Aaliya ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 42 girls were registered as Aaliya.
  • Aaliya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #652 in 2021.
  • About 775 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aaliya as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#980

2024

Births in 2024

36

Latest year

Peak year

2014

42 births

Estimated living

775

2026

Meaning

What does Aaliya mean?

The name Aaliya has its origins in the Arabic language and culture. It is a feminine name derived from the Arabic word 'Ali', which means 'lofty' or 'sublime'. The name Aaliya is a variation of the name Aliya and is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions with a strong Islamic influence.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Aaliya can be found in Islamic literature and texts. It is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as a name associated with piety and righteousness. The name gained popularity among Muslim communities and spread across the Middle East and other regions with significant Islamic influence.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Aaliya. One of the earliest recorded examples is Aaliya bint Ahmad al-Rudbariyya, a renowned female scholar and poet who lived in the 10th century CE in present-day Iran. She was highly respected for her knowledge and contributions to the fields of literature and Islamic studies.

Another notable figure was Aaliya Ismat Begum (1892-1950), an Indian Muslim writer and feminist activist. She played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and education in pre-independence India and was a prominent figure in the Muslim women's movement of the time.

In the realm of literature, Aaliya Saleh (1936-1994) was a prominent Sudanese novelist and short story writer. Her works explored themes of cultural identity, gender roles, and the challenges faced by women in Sudanese society. She is considered a pioneering figure in modern Sudanese literature.

Aaliya Al-Lami (1962-2019) was an Iraqi-American artist and activist known for her powerful mixed-media works that addressed issues of war, displacement, and human rights. Her art gained international recognition and was exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.

In the field of sports, Aaliya Ghumman (born 1996) is a Pakistani cricketer who has represented the national women's cricket team. She is known for her outstanding batting performances and has been a valuable player for the team in various international tournaments.

While the name Aaliya has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities worldwide. The name's connection to concepts of elevated status, piety, and righteousness has contributed to its enduring appeal and significance throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Aaliya over time

The chart below shows babies named Aaliya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Aaliya, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 42 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Aaliya
011213242199620102024

Decades

Aaliya by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aaliya was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1223 136 5
2010s #1094 321 10
2000s #978 277 10
1990s #1641 41 4

Geography

Where Aaliya is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aaliya. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Aaliya ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #652 in 2021.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Aaliya in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#652 in 2021

1 years of NRS records, 4 total registered

Related

Names similar to Aaliya

FAQ

Aaliya: questions and answers

How popular is the name Aaliya in the UK right now?

In 2024, Aaliya was ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.

When was Aaliya most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 42 babies registered as Aaliya in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Aaliya?

Of Arabic origin, signifying lofty, exalted or elevated.

How many people are called Aaliya in the UK?

A total of 775 babies have been registered as Aaliya across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4 more in Scotland.

Where is Aaliya most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Aaliya ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #652 in 2021. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.