NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Alayah

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "sublime" or "exalted".

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.

Alayah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Alayah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #351, with 125 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 125 births.

This profile covers 931 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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.

Alayah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 972 living people in the UK are called Alayah. 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

  • Alayah ranked #351 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 125 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 125 girls were registered as Alayah.
  • Alayah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #328 in 2023.
  • About 972 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alayah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#351

2024

Births in 2024

125

Latest year

Peak year

2024

125 births

Estimated living

972

2026

Meaning

What does Alayah mean?

The name Alayah is a relatively modern variant of the Arabic name Aaliyah, which means "high" or "exalted". It is derived from the Arabic root word 'aliya', which refers to something that is elevated or lofty.

The name Aaliyah has its roots in ancient Arabic culture and has been used for centuries. It gained popularity in the Middle East and North Africa, where it was often given to girls with the hope that they would grow up to be strong, resilient, and successful individuals.

While the name Alayah is not found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is believed to have emerged as a variant of Aaliyah in recent times. The earliest recorded use of the name Alayah is difficult to pinpoint, but it is thought to have gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly among Arabic-speaking communities in the United States.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Aaliyah, which is the more traditional spelling. One of the most famous was Aaliyah Dana Haughton (1979-2001), an American singer, actress, and model who was tragically killed in a plane crash at the age of 22. She was known for her unique style and influential contributions to the R&B and pop music genres.

Another notable Aaliyah was Aaliyah Massri (1914-2018), a Palestinian activist and educator who played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and education in the Middle East. She dedicated her life to empowering women and promoting social justice.

In the realm of literature, Aaliyah Saleh (1936-2008) was an acclaimed Egyptian novelist and short story writer who explored themes of identity, feminism, and social issues in her works. Her novel "The Nocturnal Visitor" is considered a classic in Arabic literature.

Aaliyah Johari (born 1988) is a Malaysian actress and model who has starred in numerous films and television shows in her home country. She is known for her versatility and has received several awards for her performances.

Aaliyah Kashyap (born 1990) is an Indian fashion designer and entrepreneur. She is the founder of a successful clothing line that celebrates traditional Indian craftsmanship while incorporating modern designs.

While the name Alayah is a more recent variant, it carries the same essence and meaning as its traditional counterpart, Aaliyah, reflecting the aspirations and hopes of parents for their daughters to reach great heights and achieve success in their lives.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alayah over time

The chart below shows babies named Alayah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Alayah, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 125 births in 2024, compared with 125 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Alayah
0316394125199720102024

Decades

Alayah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alayah 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 #416 519 5
2010s #1268 378 10
2000s #3516 31 6
1990s #3824 3 1

Geography

Where Alayah is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Alayah. 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.

Alayah ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #328 in 2023.

Scotland
10
Northern Ireland
4

Across the UK

Alayah in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#333 in 2024

5 years of NRS records, 36 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#328 in 2023

2 years of NISRA records, 9 total registered

Related

Names similar to Alayah

FAQ

Alayah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Alayah was ranked #351 for girls in England and Wales, with 125 births registered.

When was Alayah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 125 babies registered as Alayah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alayah?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "sublime" or "exalted".

How many people are called Alayah in the UK?

A total of 931 babies have been registered as Alayah across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 36 more in Scotland and 9 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Alayah most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Alayah ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #328 in 2023. 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.