Spelling comparison
Aaliyah vs Aliyah
In 2025, 2,607 female records (rank #101) and 1,188 female records (rank #263). Aaliyah accounted for 68.7% of the two spellings’ combined published records, about 2.2 times the published count of Aliyah.
US national data through 2025 · Source retrieved
Data updated
A reviewed spelling override keeps this pair together. Aaliyah profile · Aliyah profile
These are two spellings of one name. SSA keeps Aaliyah and Aliyah as separate observations, and this page does not add them into one rank. Aaliyah is the longer of the two spellings, and Aliyah is the shorter. Aaliyah writes “a” between “A” and “liyah”, and Aliyah leaves that spot out.
In years when both spellings were published, the lead changed 2 times. The latest crossover is 1994, when Aaliyah moved ahead of Aliyah on the combined published count (1,457 to 732).
Aaliyah is first published in these national files in 1976, and Aliyah in 1971. Aaliyah’s larger 2025 category is female. Aliyah’s larger 2025 category is female. Aaliyah led 5 decades and Aliyah led 1 decade among decades in which both spellings have a published total.
Inside 2016–2025, the widest combined gap was 2,652 records in 2016, and the closest year was 2024 (a gap of 1,398). Of the combined 2025 records for this pair (3,795), Aaliyah is 68.7% and Aliyah is 31.3%.
2016–2025, count and rank
The 2016 national file shows Aaliyah led 2016 by 2,652 published records (4,660 to 2,008). Read as exact spellings: Aaliyah had 4,660 female records (rank #53); Aliyah had 2,008 female records (rank #155). 2017: Aaliyah led 2017 by 2,284 published records (4,204 to 1,920). Aaliyah and Aliyah stay separate rows; 4,204 and 1,920 are not a combined baby-name total. In 2018, Aaliyah had 3,845 female records (rank #65); Aliyah had 1,777 female records (rank #161). Aaliyah led 2018 by 2,068 published records (3,845 to 1,777). 2019 belongs to Aaliyah. Aaliyah had 3,675 female records (rank #70) and 5 male records (rank #12,146); Aliyah had 1,678 female records (rank #173) and 5 male records (rank #12,228). The gap that year was 1,997 records. For 2020, compare the categories separately: Aaliyah had 3,584 female records (rank #65); Aliyah had 1,532 female records (rank #188). Aaliyah led 2020 by 2,052 published records (3,584 to 1,532), and the smaller spelling is Aliyah. Aaliyah was the higher published spelling in 2021, with 3,619 female records (rank #61) against 1,441 female records (rank #208) for Aliyah. The 2022 national file shows Aaliyah led 2022 by 1,978 published records (3,286 to 1,308). Read as exact spellings: Aaliyah had 3,286 female records (rank #69); Aliyah had 1,308 female records (rank #233). 2023: Aaliyah led 2023 by 1,511 published records (2,863 to 1,352). Aaliyah and Aliyah stay separate rows; 2,863 and 1,352 are not a combined baby-name total. In 2024, Aaliyah had 2,712 female records (rank #95); Aliyah had 1,314 female records (rank #237). Aaliyah led 2024 by 1,398 published records (2,712 to 1,314). 2025 belongs to Aaliyah. Aaliyah had 2,607 female records (rank #101); Aliyah had 1,188 female records (rank #263). The gap that year was 1,419 records.
| Year | Aaliyah female count | Aaliyah female rank | Aaliyah male count | Aaliyah male rank | Aliyah female count | Aliyah female rank | Aliyah male count | Aliyah male rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4,660 | 53 | — | — | 2,008 | 155 | — | — |
| 2017 | 4,197 | 57 | 7 | 9,699 | 1,915 | 154 | 5 | 12,346 |
| 2018 | 3,845 | 65 | — | — | 1,777 | 161 | — | — |
| 2019 | 3,675 | 70 | 5 | 12,146 | 1,678 | 173 | 5 | 12,228 |
| 2020 | 3,584 | 65 | — | — | 1,532 | 188 | — | — |
| 2021 | 3,619 | 61 | — | — | 1,441 | 208 | — | — |
| 2022 | 3,286 | 69 | — | — | 1,308 | 233 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2,858 | 85 | 5 | 12,243 | 1,352 | 220 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2,712 | 95 | — | — | 1,314 | 237 | — | — |
| 2025 | 2,607 | 101 | — | — | 1,188 | 263 | — | — |
Combined counts, 1880–2025
Each line adds the published female and male counts for that spelling. A gap is a year with no published observation, not a zero. Aaliyah is the warm line and Aliyah is the cool line.
Which spelling led each decade
Add the published 1970s years and Aaliyah comes out ahead, 142 to Aliyah’s 52. During the 1980s (1980–1989), Aliyah led with 283 published records to 209 for Aaliyah. Add the published 1990s years and Aaliyah comes out ahead, 7,850 to Aliyah’s 5,049. During the 2000s (2000–2009), Aaliyah led with 36,424 published records to 15,347 for Aliyah. Add the published 2010s years and Aaliyah comes out ahead, 46,781 to Aliyah’s 20,188. During the 2020s (2020–2025), Aaliyah led with 18,671 published records to 8,135 for Aliyah.
Top states in 2025
Aaliyah’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are California (442), Texas (372), Florida (196), New York (122), Arizona (94). Aliyah’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are California (181), Texas (168), Florida (99), New York (59), Ohio (43). California, Texas, Florida are in the top states for both spellings. A state can rank differently for each spelling because the counts are not merged.