Jaliah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "exalted" or "sublime".
Name Census estimates that about 1,141 living Americans carry the first name Jaliah. It is a predominantly female name (99.5% of registrations). The average person named Jaliah today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jaliah births was 2011 (77 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jaliah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Jaliah is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 15 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 300,398 Americans
Peak year
2011
77 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2005 SSA rank
#4,310
Tracked since 1993
Gender
Gender distribution for Jaliah
Out of the 1,154 babies given the name Jaliah since 1880, 99.5% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Jaliah as a male name
- Ranked #10,645 in 2005
- 6 male births in 2005
- Peak: 2005 (6 births)
Jaliah as a female name
- Ranked #4,310 in 2024
- 33 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (77 births)
Popularity
Jaliah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jaliah from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 494 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Jaliah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jaliah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jaliah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Jaliahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Florida, Georgia, Alabama recorded the most babies named Jaliah, while Tennessee, Illinois, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 26 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jaliah
The name Jaliah is a relatively modern invention, with its origins believed to be a combination of the Arabic name Jalia and the Hebrew name Aliyah. The Arabic name Jalia means "exalted" or "elevated," while the Hebrew name Aliyah means "ascending" or "going up." The combination of these two names, Jaliah, is thought to convey a meaning of "elevated ascension" or "exalted journey."
Despite its recent coinage, the name Jaliah has gained popularity in various parts of the world, particularly in the United States and among certain communities that appreciate its unique blend of Arabic and Hebrew influences. However, there are no known historical records or ancient texts that directly reference this specific name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jaliah can be found in the late 20th century, when it began appearing in birth records and census data. While not a widely popular name, it has been embraced by a niche group of parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful moniker for their children.
Throughout history, there are a few notable individuals who have borne the name Jaliah, albeit in slightly different spellings or as a middle name. For example, Jaliah Akbar (born 1984) is a British actress and model known for her roles in television series such as "The Bill" and "Doctors." Additionally, Jaliah Sinclair (born 1987) is an American singer and songwriter who has released several albums and singles in the R&B and soul genres.
Another notable figure is Jaliah Lyndsey (born 1992), an American fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded the clothing line "Jaliah Lyndsey Designs." In the literary world, Jaliah Raheem (born 1975) is a renowned poet and author whose works explore themes of identity, race, and social justice.
Lastly, Jaliah Mahmood (born 1980) is a Pakistani-American activist and advocate for women's rights, known for her work in promoting education and empowerment for girls and women in developing countries.
While these individuals may not be household names, their contributions across various fields serve as a testament to the diverse and accomplished individuals who have embraced the unique name Jaliah throughout recent history.
People
Jaliah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jaliah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jaliah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jaliah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,141 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jaliah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 300,398 US residents.
Is Jaliah a common name?
We classify Jaliah as "Rare". It ranks above 90.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,154 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jaliah most popular?
The single biggest year for Jaliah was 2011, when 77 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jaliah is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jaliah a female name?
Yes, 99.5% of people registered as Jaliah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.