UK girl's name
Waliyah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "woman in authority" or "guardian".
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.
Waliyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Waliyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 5 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2006 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Waliyah. 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
- • Waliyah ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 5 girls were registered as Waliyah.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Waliyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
5 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Waliyah mean?
The name Waliyah is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "wali," which means "friend" or "protector." It is a feminine name that has been used in various Islamic cultures and regions since ancient times.
The earliest recorded use of the name Waliyah can be traced back to the 7th century, during the rise of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. It was a popular name among Arab families, often given to daughters with the hope that they would grow up to be pious and devoted friends of Allah.
One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Waliyah was Waliyah bint al-Husayn, a renowned Islamic scholar and poet who lived in the 8th century. She was the granddaughter of the renowned Islamic leader, Husayn ibn Ali, and was known for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her poetic works.
Another notable figure with the name Waliyah was Waliyah bint al-Abbas, a princess of the Abbasid Caliphate who lived in the 9th century. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the advancement of education and cultural pursuits during her time.
In the 11th century, Waliyah bint Ahmad al-Bataihiah was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Andalusia, Spain. She was respected for her knowledge of Islamic law and her contributions to the field of Islamic jurisprudence.
The name Waliyah also appears in various Islamic texts and religious scriptures, such as the Quran and Hadith, where it is used as a descriptive term for those who are close to Allah and follow the righteous path.
Throughout history, the name Waliyah has been carried by various notable figures, including poets, scholars, and princesses, reflecting its association with piety, devotion, and intellectual pursuits within Islamic cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Waliyah over time
The chart below shows babies named Waliyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 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 Waliyah, the clearest high point is 2014. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Waliyah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Waliyah 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 | #5131 | 14 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4383 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000s | #5061 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Waliyah
- Willow 24,627
- Wren 2,824
- Winnie 2,339
- Wiktoria 1,725
- Winter 1,458
- Winifred 1,113
- Wynter 965
- Whitney 880
- Weronika 811
- Willa 548
- Wendy 509
- Willow-Rose 470
FAQ
Waliyah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Waliyah in the UK right now?
In 2023, Waliyah was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Waliyah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 5 babies registered as Waliyah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Waliyah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "woman in authority" or "guardian".
How many people are called Waliyah in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Waliyah across the 7 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.