UK girl's name
Khaliyah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".
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.
Khaliyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Khaliyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 9 births.
This profile covers 50 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 2015 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 50 living people in the UK are called Khaliyah. 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
- • Khaliyah ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 9 girls were registered as Khaliyah.
- • About 50 living people in the UK are estimated to have Khaliyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3318
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2019
9 births
Estimated living
50
2026
Meaning
What does Khaliyah mean?
The name Khaliyah has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, with its origins dating back to the 7th century CE, during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. The name is derived from the Arabic word "khali," which means "aunt" or "friend," often implying a strong, close bond or connection.
In its early usage, the name Khaliyah was primarily given to girls born into influential Arab families, reflecting a sense of respect and honor. As the Islamic faith spread across the Middle East and North Africa, the name gained popularity among Muslim communities, becoming a cherished choice for newborn daughters.
Historically, the name Khaliyah has been mentioned in various Islamic texts and literature, though its specific references are scarce. One notable early bearer of the name was Khaliyah bint al-Husayn, a renowned scholar and poet from the 8th century CE, who hailed from the city of Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the name Khaliyah, leaving their mark on various fields. One such figure was Khaliyah al-Nabulsi (1628-1699), a Syrian scholar and jurist who made significant contributions to the study of Islamic jurisprudence and theology.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Khaliyah al-Marrakushiyah (1548-1610), a Moroccan poet and mystic revered for her spiritual writings and poetry, which explored themes of love, devotion, and the divine.
In the realm of music, Khaliyah Ali (1892-1963), a renowned Egyptian singer and actress, rose to prominence in the early 20th century, captivating audiences with her powerful voice and stage presence.
More recently, Khaliyah Shabazz (1933-2021), the daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, carried on her family's legacy of activism and advocacy, working tirelessly to promote education and human rights.
While the name Khaliyah has its roots in the Arab world, it has transcended cultural boundaries and is now embraced by diverse communities around the globe, each imbuing it with their own unique meanings and interpretations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Khaliyah over time
The chart below shows babies named Khaliyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2015 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 Khaliyah, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Khaliyah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Khaliyah 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 | #3621 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4420 | 26 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Khaliyah
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Khaliyah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Khaliyah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Khaliyah was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Khaliyah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 9 babies registered as Khaliyah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Khaliyah?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "friend" or "companion".
How many people are called Khaliyah in the UK?
A total of 50 babies have been registered as Khaliyah across the 9 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.