UK boy's name
Aliou
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "highest, most high".
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.
Aliou is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aliou popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2012 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 6 living people in the UK are called Aliou. 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
- • Aliou ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Aliou.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aliou as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Aliou mean?
The given name Aliou originates from the Wolof language spoken in Senegal and parts of Mauritania. It is a masculine name derived from the Arabic name Ali, which means "high" or "sublime." The name Aliou is believed to have emerged in the 7th or 8th century during the spread of Islam in West Africa.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aliou can be found in the Wolof epic poem "Kadior Biram," which dates back to the 13th century. This epic poem tells the story of a Wolof hero named Kadior Biram and mentions several characters with the name Aliou.
In the 14th century, an Islamic scholar and theologian named Aliou Diouf is believed to have lived in the ancient city of Timbuktu, which was a renowned center of learning and scholarship during that time. Aliou Diouf is credited with writing several treatises on Islamic jurisprudence and philosophy.
During the 16th century, a Wolof warrior named Aliou Ndiaye played a significant role in defending the Wolof Empire against the expanding influence of the Portuguese empire in West Africa. Aliou Ndiaye is celebrated as a national hero in Senegalese history.
In the 19th century, Aliou Cissé was a prominent Senegalese scholar and educator who established several schools in the region and contributed to the preservation of Wolof language and culture.
In more recent times, Aliou Cissé (born in 1976) is a former Senegalese professional footballer and the current head coach of the Senegalese national football team. He led the team to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022.
Aliou Badara Cissé (born in 1980) is a Senegalese singer and musician known for his work in the mbalax genre, a fusion of traditional Wolof music and contemporary styles.
Aliou Sané (born in 1995) is a Senegalese professional basketball player who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons in the NBA.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Aliou, which has its roots in the Wolof language and culture of Senegal and the broader West African region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aliou over time
The chart below shows babies named Aliou registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Aliou, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aliou by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aliou 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 | #5119 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Aliou
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Aliou: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aliou in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aliou was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Aliou most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Aliou in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aliou?
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "highest, most high".
How many people are called Aliou in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Aliou across the 2 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.