The story behind Aaliyah
Popularized by American singer Aaliyah Haughton (1979-2001). Transliteration of Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya).
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): AA2 L IY1 AA2
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Aaliyah ranked #101 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Aaliyah
Aliyah
Ultimately from Arabic عَالِيَة (ʕāliya). Ultimately from Hebrew עלייה \ עֲלִיָּה (aliyá, “ascent”)
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- same syllable count
- similar length
Alliyah
A female given name from Hebrew borrowed from Arabic; a variant of the name Aliyah or Aaliyah.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- same syllable count
- similar length
Farah
Borrowed from Arabic فَرَح (faraḥ, “joy”). Borrowed from Arabic فَرَح (faraḥ, “joy”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- same syllable count
- similar length
Farrah
Variant of Farrar, from Middle English ferreor (“iron worker, smith”). The given name was popularized by the American actress Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009). Her name is often…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- same syllable count
- similar length
Fatih
Inherited from Ottoman Turkish فاتح (Fâtih), from Arabic فَاتِح (fātiḥ).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- same syllable count
- similar length
Marah
Borrowed from Arabic مَرَح (maraḥ). Borrowed from Hebrew מָרָה.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Aaliyah
Abacar
Borrowed from Arabic أَبُو بَكْر (ʔabū bakr, literally “father of a young camel; father of a person named Bakr”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abdala
From Old Galician-Portuguese Abdalla, from Arabic عَبْدُ الله (ʕabdu llāh).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abdeslam
Borrowed from Arabic عَبْدُ ٱلسَّلَام (ʕabdu s-salām).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Aaliyah
Bahriye
Inherited from Ottoman Turkish بحریه, from Arabic بَحْرِيَّة (baḥriyya).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barack
Anglicized spelling, used by Luo speakers, of Barak, ostensibly as an Old Testament name. A cognate of the biblical Baruch.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends K
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Barak
From Hebrew בָּרָק (“lightning”). From Arabic بَارَك (bārak, “he who is blessed”). Cognate with the biblical name Baruch of Hebrew origin. The usage of the root ب ر ك (b r k)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends K
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length