NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Alaiyah

An Arabic name meaning "exalted" or "highest".

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.

Alaiyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Alaiyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1743, with 17 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 17 births.

This profile covers 107 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2014 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 107 living people in the UK are called Alaiyah. 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

  • Alaiyah ranked #1743 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 17 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 17 girls were registered as Alaiyah.
  • About 107 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alaiyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1743

2024

Births in 2024

17

Latest year

Peak year

2021

17 births

Estimated living

107

2026

Meaning

What does Alaiyah mean?

The name Alaiyah has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, tracing back to the Middle Eastern region. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word 'Aliyah', which means 'exalted' or 'high' in English. The name carries connotations of elevated status, nobility, and dignity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alaiyah can be found in ancient Arabic texts and historical records. It was occasionally used as a name for girls born into prominent families or those with a high social standing. The name's association with exaltation and loftiness made it a fitting choice for parents wishing to bestow a sense of reverence and prestige upon their daughters.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alaiyah. One of the earliest recorded examples is Alaiyah al-Hadrami, a renowned 10th-century poet and scholar from Yemen (born around 920 AD). Her poetic works were widely acclaimed for their eloquence and depth, cementing her place in the annals of Arabic literature.

Another prominent figure with this name was Alaiyah bint Ahmad al-Manfaluti (1905-1986), an Egyptian writer and feminist activist. She played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights and education in Egypt during the early 20th century, using her literary works to challenge societal norms and promote progressive ideals.

In the realm of religion, Alaiyah bint Uthman (born around 642 AD) was a revered figure in early Islamic history. She was known for her piety and knowledge, and her teachings and insights were highly regarded by scholars and religious leaders of her time.

More recently, Alaiyah (1979-2001) was an American singer, actress, and model whose meteoric rise to fame in the late 1990s was tragically cut short by her untimely death. Despite her brief career, she left an indelible mark on the music industry and is remembered as a trailblazer in the world of R&B and hip-hop.

Another notable figure was Alaiyah Hamourtziadou (born in 1975), a British actress and screenwriter of Greek-Cypriot descent. She has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including "The Halcyon" and "The Art of Marriage," and is renowned for her versatile performances and storytelling abilities.

While the name Alaiyah has its roots in the Arabic language, it has transcended cultural boundaries and gained popularity across various regions and communities worldwide, with each instance carrying the essence of its original meaning – a name that embodies exaltation, dignity, and a sense of elevated status.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alaiyah over time

The chart below shows babies named Alaiyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 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 Alaiyah, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 17 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Alaiyah
0491317201420192024

Decades

Alaiyah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alaiyah 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 #1926 74 5
2010s #3561 33 5

Related

Names similar to Alaiyah

FAQ

Alaiyah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Alaiyah was ranked #1743 for girls in England and Wales, with 17 births registered.

When was Alaiyah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 17 babies registered as Alaiyah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alaiyah?

An Arabic name meaning "exalted" or "highest".

How many people are called Alaiyah in the UK?

A total of 107 babies have been registered as Alaiyah across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

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.