NameCensus.
Uncommon

Kaliyah

A feminine name meaning "victorious", "prosperous", or "blessed" in Arabic.

Name Census estimates that about 12,034 living Americans carry the first name Kaliyah. It sits at #443 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Kaliyah today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kaliyah births was 2024 (701 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Kaliyah. 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

  • Kaliyah is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 13 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.

People living today

12K

~ 1 in 28,482 Americans

Peak year

2024

701 babies that year

Average age

13

years old

2004 SSA rank

#443

Tracked since 1994

Gender

Gender distribution for Kaliyah

Out of the 12,151 babies given the name Kaliyah since 1880, 100.0% 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.

100% female
Male5 (0.0%)Female12,146 (100.0%)

Kaliyah as a male name

  • Ranked #12,290 in 2004
  • 5 male births in 2004
  • Peak: 2004 (5 births)

Kaliyah as a female name

  • Ranked #443 in 2024
  • 701 female births in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (701 births)

Popularity

Kaliyah: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Kaliyah 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 5,470 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Kaliyah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.

Babies born per year

MaleFemale
0175351526701199520002005201020152020

Decades

Kaliyah 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 Kaliyah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
1990s0391391
2000s53,4203,425
2010s05,4705,470
2020s02,8652,865

Geography

Where Kaliyahs live

The SSA's state-level files cover 40 states and territories. Texas, Florida, California recorded the most babies named Kaliyah, while Idaho, Alaska, West Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 276 registrations each.

Origin

Meaning and history of Kaliyah

The name Kaliyah is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, tracing back to the early Islamic era. It is a feminine name derived from the Arabic word "kali," which means "beloved" or "dear one." The name carries a sense of affection and endearment.

Historically, the name Kaliyah gained prominence in regions with a strong Arabic cultural influence, particularly in the Middle East and parts of North Africa. Its usage can be found in ancient Arabic texts and literature, reflecting the cultural significance of names with endearing meanings.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Kaliyah was a renowned 10th-century Arab poet and scholar from Cordoba, Spain. Known for her poetic talents and intellectual prowess, she left a lasting impact on the literary and academic circles of her time.

Another prominent figure was Kaliyah bint al-Husayn, a 9th-century Muslim princess and scholar from the Abbasid Caliphate. She was renowned for her knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the advancement of women's education during that era.

In the 12th century, Kaliyah al-Dimashqi was a respected scholar and physician from Damascus, Syria. Her extensive knowledge of herbal medicine and natural remedies earned her recognition throughout the region.

During the 14th century, Kaliyah al-Andalusiya was a celebrated calligraphist and artist from the Andalusian region of Spain. Her intricate calligraphic works were highly sought after and displayed in renowned institutions of the time.

In the 16th century, Kaliyah al-Maghribiya was a renowned poet and writer from Morocco. Her poetic works, which often explored themes of love and spirituality, were widely appreciated and influential in the literary circles of her era.

While the name Kaliyah has maintained a presence throughout history, particularly in the Arab world and regions influenced by Arabic culture, its usage has also spread to other parts of the world due to cultural exchange and migration patterns.

People

Kaliyah + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Kaliyah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with K

Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Kaliyah: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Kaliyah?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12,034 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kaliyah 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 28,482 US residents.

Is Kaliyah a common name?

We classify Kaliyah as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12,151 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Kaliyah most popular?

The single biggest year for Kaliyah was 2024, when 701 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kaliyah is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

Is Kaliyah a female name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kaliyah 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.

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