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Home › Baby Names Directory › Alaia

Alaia

♀ Girl

Pronounced ah-LY-uh /əˈlaɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Joyful; happy — from Basque alai (joyful, cheerful)High

In 30 seconds: A joyful Basque name meaning 'happy,' Alaia is also associated with the legendary fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa. Its bright sound and unusual origin have made it a rising choice in the United States.
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Origin HighBasque, Arabic
MeaningJoyful; happy — from Basque alai (joyful, cheerful)
U.S. rank (2025)#117 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births2,318 girls (0.14% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 17,674

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419862025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Alaia is a Basque feminine name from alai, meaning 'joyful' or 'cheerful.' Basque names have been increasingly adopted outside their traditional region as parents seek unusual but melodic options.

As a given name Alaia has been rising in the United States in the 2010s, partly through its association with high fashion and its melodic three-syllable sound. It now appears in the top 300 girls' names.

Did you know? Azzedine Alaïa (1935–2017), the Tunisian-French fashion designer known as the 'King of Cling,' lent his name its fashion world prestige — though his spelling Alaïa has a different Tunisian Arabic origin.

Variations

AlaïaAlaiaAlaya

Nicknames

AlyLaia

Famous Bearers

  • ★Azzedine Alaia (1935-2017)
    Tunisian-French fashion designer (surname mononym Alaia)

If you like Alaia…

Layla— melodic three-syllable name with the same lyrical vowel-rich quality
Aaliyah— Arabic-rooted name with the same musical, cross-cultural appeal
Aria— short melodic name with the same airy, bright feminine charm
Amara— three-syllable African/Arabic name with the same unusual, beautiful feel

Explore names like Alaia

By meaningJoy

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alaia mean?

Alaia is a Basque name meaning 'joyful' or 'cheerful,' from the Basque word alai.

How do you pronounce Alaia?

It is said ah-LY-uh /əˈlaɪ.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Alaia a boy or girl name?

Alaia is used exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Alaia?

Alaia has been rising in the U.S. and now appears in the top 300 girls' names.

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