Houdhoud, the hoopoe

A Name Story by Houdhoud

عَالِيَة

Aaliyah

aa-LEE-yah

High, exalted.”

About Aaliyah

Aaliyah is a Muslim baby girl's name meaning "high, exalted" — an Arabic name carried for centuries across the Muslim world.

From the Arabic root ع-ل-و meaning 'to be high'. Feminine of Ali. Variant of Aliya.

Beloved across Arab, South Asian, and African American Muslim families.

Origin & roots

Origin

Arabic

Gender

Girl

Also spelled

Aliyah, Alia

Root letters

ع ل وʿ-L-W

In Arabic, root letters are the seed that gives a word its meaning. Every word built from them inherits that family of meaning — and Aaliyah is one such word.

How to say it

aa·LEE·yah

Stressed syllable in capitals

Discover names like Aaliyah

Other names with the same heart — close in origin, sound, and spirit.

Looking for a name made for your family?

I’ll ask six warm questions about your family — heritage, the sound you love, who you’d like to honor — and find names made for yours. About ninety seconds.

Free · No sign-up

Aaliyah: Meaning, Pronunciation, and Origin · Houdhoud