UK girl's name
Aliah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "high" 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.
Aliah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aliah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2574, with 10 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 13 births.
This profile covers 179 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 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 77% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 178 living people in the UK are called Aliah. 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
- • Aliah ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 10 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 13 girls were registered as Aliah.
- • About 178 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aliah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2574
2024
Births in 2024
10
Latest year
Peak year
2005
13 births
Estimated living
178
2026
Meaning
What does Aliah mean?
The name Aliah has its origins in the Arabic language and the Islamic culture. It is believed to have emerged around the 7th century CE, during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula.
Aliah is derived from the Arabic word 'Alia', which means 'exalted' or 'elevated'. The name is often given to girls with the hope that they will lead a life of dignity, honor, and high moral standing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aliah can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Aliah is mentioned as a variation of the name 'Aliyah', which is the feminine form of the Arabic word 'Ali', meaning 'lofty' or 'sublime'.
In the centuries following the advent of Islam, the name Aliah gained popularity across the Muslim world, particularly in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. It was often associated with women of noble birth or those who held positions of respect and influence within their communities.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Aliah. One of the earliest recorded examples is Aliah bint Abi Bakr (c. 613 - 681 CE), the daughter of Abu Bakr, who was one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph of the Islamic Empire.
Another prominent figure was Aliah al-Fayrouz (c. 1030 - 1098 CE), a renowned Persian poet and scholar who was celebrated for her literary works and her expertise in various fields, including theology and philosophy.
In the 12th century, Aliah al-Jaza'iriyah (1116 - 1198 CE) was a respected Islamic scholar and jurist from the city of Algiers, known for her contributions to the study and interpretation of Islamic law.
During the Ottoman Empire, Aliah Hafsa Sultan (1570 - 1624 CE) was a influential figure as the daughter of Sultan Murad III and the wife of Sultan Mehmed III. She played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the empire.
In more recent times, Aliah Ghuznavi (1846 - 1924 CE) was a prominent Afghan poet and writer who was celebrated for her literary contributions and her advocacy for women's education and empowerment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aliah over time
The chart below shows babies named Aliah 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 Aliah, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 10 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aliah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aliah 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 | #3237 | 15 | 2 |
| 2010s | #3543 | 64 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2626 | 76 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2431 | 24 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Aliah
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Aliah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aliah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aliah was ranked #2574 for girls in England and Wales, with 10 births registered.
When was Aliah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 13 babies registered as Aliah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aliah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "high" or "exalted".
How many people are called Aliah in the UK?
A total of 179 babies have been registered as Aliah across the 26 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.