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Jalayah

♀ Girl

Pronounced juh-LAY-uh /dʒəˈleɪ.ə/Medium

Meaning: Small, little, young, childMedium

In 30 seconds: Jalayah is an African American name given the meaning 'small, little, young, child'. The -ayah ending gives it a flowing, lyrical finish.

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Origin MediumAfrican American

MeaningSmall, little, young, child

U.S. rank (2025)#1786 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births113 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,237

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Jalayah carries the sense of 'small, little, young, child' and comes out of African American naming, where invented and reshaped names often build rich, melodic sounds. It is closely tied to the simpler spelling Jalaya. The added h at the end is a written flourish that leaves the sound unchanged.

The three open syllables give Jalayah a soft, song-like rhythm, and the variant Jalaya shows the same name with a plainer tail.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Jalayah is 'small, little, young, child', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Jalayah — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Jalaya

Nicknames

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If you like Jalayah…

Jalaya— The h-less spelling of the same name listed in its variations.

Jaliyah— A close African American name sharing Jalayah's Ja- opening and flowing ending.

Aaliyah— Shares the lyrical -liyah sound at the heart of Jalayah.

Jaleah— lands in the same popularity range

Naliyah— echoes that soft -ah sound

Explore names like Jalayah

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jalayah mean?

Jalayah is usually explained as meaning 'small, little, young, child' and is most often linked with African American tradition.

How do you pronounce Jalayah?

It's commonly said juh-LAY-uh /dʒ.ˈleɪ.ə/.

Is Jalayah a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Jalayah is used as a girl name.

How popular is Jalayah?

In 2024, Jalayah ranked #1750 in the U.S. for girls, with 115 births recorded.