UK girl's name
Aliyyah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "elevated" 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.
Aliyyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aliyyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 12 births.
This profile covers 123 England and Wales registrations across 21 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 122 living people in the UK are called Aliyyah. 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
- • Aliyyah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 12 girls were registered as Aliyyah.
- • About 122 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aliyyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2002
12 births
Estimated living
122
2026
Meaning
What does Aliyyah mean?
The name Aliyyah originated in Arabic and is derived from the word "Aali," which means "high" or "exalted." It is a feminine form of the name Ali and is closely associated with Islamic culture and religious traditions.
The earliest recorded use of the name Aliyyah can be traced back to the 7th century, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the early days of Islam. One of the most notable historical figures with this name was Aliyyah bint Abi Bakr, who was the daughter of Abu Bakr, one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Caliph of the Islamic empire.
In Islamic literature and texts, the name Aliyyah is often associated with piety, righteousness, and a deep connection to spirituality. It is mentioned in various hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and Islamic writings, where it is used as a symbol of elevated status and closeness to God.
Throughout history, several prominent women have borne the name Aliyyah. One notable example is Aliyyah Salih (1911-1994), an Egyptian writer, feminist, and activist who played a significant role in the women's rights movement in Egypt during the 20th century.
Another prominent figure with the name Aliyyah was Aliyyah Khanum (1776-1805), a influential poet and writer from the Mughal Empire in India. Her works, written in Persian, were celebrated for their lyrical beauty and profound insights into human nature and spirituality.
In the realm of music, Aliyyah Farrah (1968-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress who rose to fame in the 1990s with her unique blend of R&B, soul, and pop music. Her untimely death at the age of 33 was a tragic loss for the music industry, but her legacy and influence continue to inspire artists to this day.
The name Aliyyah has also been borne by various other notable figures throughout history, including scholars, artists, and religious leaders. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its strong cultural and religious roots, as well as its association with qualities such as grace, elegance, and spiritual enlightenment.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aliyyah over time
The chart below shows babies named Aliyyah 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 Aliyyah, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aliyyah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aliyyah 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 | #5891 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4616 | 33 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2712 | 67 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2752 | 20 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Aliyyah
- 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
Aliyyah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aliyyah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aliyyah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Aliyyah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 12 babies registered as Aliyyah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aliyyah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "elevated" or "exalted".
How many people are called Aliyyah in the UK?
A total of 123 babies have been registered as Aliyyah across the 21 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.