Baby Name Popularity Profile

Aaliyah

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Aaliyah.

✦ High, exalted, sublime 🌍 Arabic spiritual traditional
National Rank (2025) #101
All-Time Peak Rank #36 Achieved 2012
Total U.S. Births 109,971 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1976 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 5,523 births in 2012
πŸ’‘ The Aaliyah Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning High, exalted, sublime
Language Origin Arabic
Origin Type single
Derived from the Arabic root 'ΚΏ-l-w' (ΨΉΩ„Ωˆ) meaning 'to be high, to ascend'.
Common Nicknames
Ali Liya Leah
Alternative Spellings
Aliyah Alia Aleah
Pronunciation: ah-LEE-yah
Themes & Categories
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Aaliyah

According to SSA data, Aaliyah achieved its highest historical rank of #36 in 2012. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2012 with 5,523 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 46.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 50 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Aaliyah across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -46.6% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,523 births in 2012
Years in Top 100 24 yrs
Years in Top 500 32 yrs
Registry Streak 50 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 0
1960s: 0
1970s: 142
1980s: 209
1990s: 7,839
2000s: 36,381
2010s: 46,734
2020s: 18,666

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Aa-li-y-ah
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with A, a letter used by only 10.8% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Aaliyah.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Arizona, Delaware
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #49 1,142 2012 30.2% Decline
New Mexico #37 1,234 2012 35.1% Decline
Florida #80 7,834 2012 26.9% Decline
Arizona #50 2,763 2012 13.8% Decline
Delaware #46 341 2008 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #100 4,477 2012 32.8% Decline
Texas #66 12,147 2012 15.8% Decline
Alaska #134 219 2016 Insufficient historical volume
California #58 14,831 2012 31.7% Decline
North Carolina #113 3,833 2012 16.2% Decline
Colorado #118 1,597 2012 31.8% Decline
South Carolina #114 1,929 2010 26.9% Decline
Maryland #168 1,987 2011 50.8% Decline
Mississippi #99 1,621 2002 31.2% Decline
Virginia #127 2,753 2012 37.6% Decline
Louisiana #121 2,124 2002 22.7% Decline
Hawaii #136 361 2005 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #95 1,889 2012 +6.7% Growth
Tennessee #148 2,342 2002 28.6% Decline
Oregon #158 941 2015 45.0% Decline
Alabama #184 1,853 2007 35.1% Decline
Rhode Island #103 367 2014 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #308 377 2015 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #116 4,650 2002 36.3% Decline
Connecticut #120 1,026 2007 29.4% Decline
District of Columbia #73 407 2002 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #162 737 2013 38.6% Decline
Arkansas #270 971 2011 73.8% Decline
New Jersey #133 2,424 2002 22.7% Decline
Indiana #145 2,076 2013 22.0% Decline
Oklahoma #185 1,173 2013 25.0% Decline
Kansas #156 906 2012 30.0% Decline
New York #130 6,270 2002 31.5% Decline
Ohio #139 3,613 2012 17.0% Decline
Michigan #193 2,888 2011 47.7% Decline
Missouri #228 1,568 2013 46.0% Decline
Wisconsin #326 1,387 2011 66.0% Decline
Massachusetts #112 1,695 2002 +2.2% Growth
Kentucky #172 1,180 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #157 490 2011 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #154 1,206 2013 +6.1% Growth
Pennsylvania #143 3,471 2002 30.2% Decline
South Dakota #97 209 2010 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 188 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #154 694 2011 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #308 481 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #153 202 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #208 139 2010 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 142 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 60 2011 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 64 2012 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ”— Names You Might Also Like

Based on statistical similarity and shared characteristics with Aaliyah:

Demographic & Volume Peers
Aalayah Ameliah Aariyah Aasiyah Aaleyah Aliviah Aaminah Arianah Aamiyah Aalyiah
More spiritual Names

πŸ—‚οΈ Browse More Baby Names

Explore our name indexes and data tracks: