NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Meliyah

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "having beautiful looks".

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.

Meliyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meliyah 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 2021, with 4 births.

This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2016 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Meliyah. 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

  • Meliyah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 girls were registered as Meliyah.
  • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meliyah 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

2021

4 births

Estimated living

19

2026

Meaning

What does Meliyah mean?

The name Meliyah is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. Its etymology can be linked to the Arabic word "malika," which translates to "queen" or "sovereign," suggesting a regal and noble connotation.

During the golden age of Islamic civilization, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th centuries, names with similar spellings and meanings were prevalent. The name Meliyah, or variations of it, were often bestowed upon females born into prominent families or those with a strong connection to the ruling class.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the writings of the renowned Islamic scholar Ibn Khaldun, who lived from 1332 to 1406. In his historical accounts, he mentioned a woman named Meliyah, the daughter of a high-ranking official during the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the name Meliyah. One such figure was Meliyah al-Andalusi, a renowned poet and scholar who lived in Andalusia (modern-day Spain) during the 11th century. Her works, which celebrated the beauty of nature and the intricacies of the Arabic language, are still studied and admired by scholars today.

Another prominent figure was Meliyah bint al-Muqtadir, who lived in the 10th century and was the daughter of the Abbasid Caliph al-Muqtadir. She was known for her intelligence and her patronage of the arts, supporting numerous poets and artists during her lifetime.

In the realm of literature, the name Meliyah also found its way into the works of the celebrated Persian poet Rumi, who lived from 1207 to 1273. In his poetic verses, he often used the name as a metaphor for divine beauty and grace.

During the Ottoman Empire, which spanned from the 14th to the 20th centuries, the name Meliyah continued to be used among the nobility and upper classes. One noteworthy figure was Meliyah Sultan, who lived in the 16th century and was the daughter of Sultan Selim II. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of educational institutions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Meliyah over time

The chart below shows babies named Meliyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 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 Meliyah, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Meliyah
01234201620202024

Decades

Meliyah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meliyah 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 #5426 13 4
2010s #5688 6 2

Related

Names similar to Meliyah

FAQ

Meliyah: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Meliyah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Meliyah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Meliyah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Meliyah?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "having beautiful looks".

How many people are called Meliyah in the UK?

A total of 19 babies have been registered as Meliyah across the 6 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.