Aaliyah vs Ava

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Aaliyah

Girl #93 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"ascending, going up"

Origin: Arabic

Cultural Roots

Arabic African American Muslim American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#93
Total SSA Count
2,703
Syllables
3
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ali, Lee, Liyah

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Aaliyah →

Popularity Comparison

Aaliyah Rank #93
Ava Rank #9

Ava is more popular, ranked #9 vs #93 for Aaliyah.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Aaliyah ___

  • Aaliyah Rose
  • Aaliyah Grace
  • Aaliyah Marie
  • Aaliyah Jade
  • Aaliyah Simone
  • Aaliyah Nicole

Ava ___

  • Ava Rose
  • Ava Grace
  • Ava Marie
  • Ava Claire
  • Ava Elizabeth
  • Ava Mae

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Aaliyah

Zara Amara Khalil Amir Nadia

If you choose Ava

Liam Noah Olivia Sophia Isabella

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aaliyah or Ava more popular?

Ava is more popular, ranked #9 compared to Aaliyah at #93 in the United States.

What do Aaliyah and Ava mean?

Aaliyah means "ascending, going up" (Arabic origin). Ava means "life" (Germanic origin).

Are Aaliyah and Ava boy or girl names?

Aaliyah is primarily a girl name. Ava is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

Ava vs Aaliyah Aaliyah vs Sadie Aaliyah vs Elise Aaliyah vs Lainey Aaliyah vs Madelyn
← Full profile: Aaliyah ← Full profile: Ava Browse all baby names