NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Alilah

A feminine Arabic name meaning "night celebrations and feasts".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Alilah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Alilah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 5 births.

This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 2014 to 2023. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Alilah. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Alilah ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 5 girls were registered as Alilah.
  • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alilah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4709

2023

Births in 2023

4

Latest year

Peak year

2018

5 births

Estimated living

18

2026

Meaning

What does Alilah mean?

The name Alilah is believed to have its origins in Arabic culture, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic word "alilah," which means "beautiful" or "exquisite." The name carries a sense of elegance and grace, often associated with the physical beauty and inner radiance of its bearer.

One of the earliest known references to the name Alilah can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and writers from the 9th and 10th centuries. It was sometimes used as a poetic term or metaphor to describe the captivating allure of a beloved or the splendor of nature. The name gained further recognition and popularity during the Golden Age of Islamic civilization, when literature, arts, and sciences flourished.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alilah. One such figure was Alilah bint Ahmad (1025-1090), a renowned scholar and poetess from Andalusia, known for her contributions to Arabic literature and her mastery of various poetic forms. Her works were widely celebrated and served as an inspiration for many generations of writers and poets.

Another historical figure bearing the name Alilah was Alilah al-Qadiri (1135-1210), a Sufi mystic and spiritual teacher from modern-day Iraq. She was revered for her wisdom, piety, and profound knowledge of Islamic mysticism. Her teachings and writings influenced the development of Sufism and continue to be studied by scholars and practitioners alike.

In the realm of arts and culture, Alilah al-Baghdadi (1265-1335) was a celebrated calligrapher and painter from Baghdad. Her exquisite calligraphic works and intricate miniature paintings adorned manuscripts and adorned the walls of palaces and mosques, showcasing her remarkable talent and artistry.

The name Alilah also found its way into literature, as seen in the poetic works of Alilah al-Andalusi (1370-1440), a renowned poet from Andalusia. Her verses, rich in imagery and emotion, captured the hearts of readers and influenced the literary traditions of her time.

Another noteworthy figure was Alilah al-Malikah (1520-1590), a princess and patron of the arts in the Ottoman Empire. Her patronage and appreciation for the arts fostered the development of various artistic disciplines, including literature, music, and architecture, leaving a lasting legacy in the cultural heritage of the region.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Alilah, a name that evokes beauty, grace, and cultural richness rooted in the Arabic tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Alilah over time

The chart below shows babies named Alilah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2014 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Alilah, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Alilah
01345201420182023

Decades

Alilah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alilah 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 #5145 7 2
2010s #5089 11 3

Related

Names similar to Alilah

FAQ

Alilah: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Alilah was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Alilah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 5 babies registered as Alilah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Alilah?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "night celebrations and feasts".

How many people are called Alilah in the UK?

A total of 18 babies have been registered as Alilah across the 5 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.