Aaliyah (Hebrew: עליה; Arabic: علية or عالية) is a female given name with origins in Hebrew and Arabic, making it a common given name for girls born to Jewish and Muslim families. A recent increase in usage has been attributed to the fame of the late pop singer Aaliyah.
Origin
In Hebrew, aaliyah (also commonly transliterated as aliyah) means "ascent," "rising," or "going up." The word is found in various parts of the Tanakh to refer to this concept. The word is often used to refer to the calling of a member of a Jewish congregation up to the bimah for a segment of the formal Torah reading. It may also refer to the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the geographical Land of Israel (i.e. "making aliyah").
In Arabic, aaliyah is derived from the verb “alah,” which means “to ascend” or “to go up.” As a given name, it is the feminine form of Aali, meaning “high” or “exalted.” Aaliyah is also associated with Aliya bint Ali, one of the 17 daughters of Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam. The spelling “Aaliyah” with the double ‘A’ is more common in Arabic transliterations, while the Hebrew version often starts with a single ‘A’ ("Aliyah"), though both spellings may be used. Variations of the name, including Alia, Aliya, Aleah, and Alya, can be found across cultures.
Notable people
- Aaliyah Alleyne (born 1994), Caribbean cricketer
- Aaliyah Brown (born 1995), American sprinter
- Aaliyah Edwards (born 2002), American basketball player
- Aaliyah Fasavalu-Fa'amausili (born 2000), Australian rugby league footballer
- Aaliyah Haughton or mononymously Aaliyah (1979–2001), American singer/actress
- Aaliyah Nolan (born 1997), Bermudian footballer
- Aaliyah Palestrini (born 2003), Seychellois swimmer
- Aaliyah Powell (born 2002), British taekwondo practitioner
- Aaliyah Prince (born 2001), Trinidadian footballer
- Aaliyah Wilson (born 1998), American basketball player
See also
References
- Desai, Mary-Anne (20 December 2024). "Aaliyah (Baby Name)". The Bump. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- Evans, Cleveland Kent (2007), "The Tsunami Curve and Popular Culture: Influences on Given Names", Names: A Journal of Onomastics, 55 (4)
- Brown; Briggs; Driver; Gesenius (1987). Hebrew Lexicon entry for "aliyah". The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. ISBN 0-8024-8631-2.
- Bloch, Abraham P., The Biblical and Historical Background of Jewish Customs and Ceremonies, KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1980, p. 134. ISBN 978-0870686580.
- Lewis, Bernard (2012). Bearman, P.; Bianquis, T.; Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-16121-4.
- Shaikh, Nida (7 May 2024). "Aaliyah Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity". Mom Junction: Baby Names. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
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