Aaliyah vs Layla

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 →

Layla

Girl #37 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"night, dark beauty"

Origin: Arabic layl meaning night

Cultural Roots

Arabic Persian Hebrew English

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#37
Total SSA Count
5,305
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Lay, Layla

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Layla →

Popularity Comparison

Aaliyah Rank #93
Layla Rank #37

Layla is more popular, ranked #37 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

Layla ___

  • Layla Rose
  • Layla Grace
  • Layla Mae
  • Layla Jean
  • Layla Anne
  • Layla Claire

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Aaliyah

Zara Amara Khalil Amir Nadia

If you choose Layla

Zara Sofia Omar Cyrus Nadia

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 Layla more popular?

Layla is more popular, ranked #37 compared to Aaliyah at #93 in the United States.

What do Aaliyah and Layla mean?

Aaliyah means "ascending, going up" (Arabic origin). Layla means "night, dark beauty" (Arabic layl meaning night origin).

Are Aaliyah and Layla boy or girl names?

Aaliyah is primarily a girl name. Layla is primarily a girl name.

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← Full profile: Aaliyah ← Full profile: Layla Browse all baby names