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Aliyah

♀ Girl

Pronounced ah-LEE-uh /əˈliː.ə/High

Meaning: Exalted; to rise; to ascend; from Arabic/Hebrew root 'alaa (to rise)High

In 30 seconds: A radiant name from Hebrew and Arabic meaning 'exalted' or 'to rise.' Also the Hebrew term for Jewish immigration to Israel. Popularized in the United States by R&B singer Aaliyah.
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Origin HighHebrew, Arabic
MeaningExalted; to rise; to ascend; from Arabic/Hebrew root 'alaa (to rise)
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 37,334

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201119712017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Aliyah derives from the Arabic and Hebrew root ʿalā ('to rise, to ascend'), giving it the meaning 'exalted' or 'one who ascends.' In Hebrew, aliyah is the term for Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel. The name has been used in Arabic-speaking Muslim communities as a form of Aaliyah, and gained wider use in the United States in the 1990s through R&B singer Aaliyah (born Aaliyah Dana Haughton).

Aliyah is a variant spelling of Aaliyah and Alia. The name became widely popular in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s following Aaliyah's success in R&B music. It remains in the top 200 U.S. girls' names in various spellings. The Aliyah spelling is particularly common in communities with Muslim or Jewish heritage.

Did you know? In Judaism, aliyah refers to the call to read from the Torah in synagogue and to the act of immigrating to Israel — literally a 'rising up' to the Holy Land.

Variations

AaliyahAliaAleahAliya

Nicknames

AliLia

Famous Bearers

  • ★Aaliyah (Aaliyah Dana Haughton) (1979–2001)
    American R&B singer whose music and legacy have kept this name prominent.

If you like Aliyah…

Aaliyah— most popular spelling of the same name
Layla— Arabic feminine name with a similar melodic quality
Amira— Arabic name meaning 'princess,' similarly rising in the same communities

Frequently Asked

What does the name Aliyah mean?

Aliyah means 'exalted' or 'to rise/ascend' from the Hebrew/Arabic root alaa. In Hebrew, aliyah also refers to immigration to Israel.

How do you pronounce Aliyah?

Aliyah is pronounced ah-LEE-uh (/əˈliː.ə/) — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Aliyah a boy or girl name?

Aliyah is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Aliyah?

Aliyah has been in the U.S. top 200 girls' names in various spellings for decades, boosted by the R&B singer Aaliyah.