Aleia
Aleia was the 933rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 279 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,779 places. More babies were named Aleia in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Alaia) joyful (Basque) · Basque
- Rank in 2025
- #933 girls, up 98 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 279girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025279 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,223babies recorded
What does the name Aleia mean?
Aleia is a spelling of Alaia, pronounced the same way, so it shares Alaia's meaning and origin.
Alaia is a Basque girl's name from alai, 'joyful, cheerful', and Wiktionary says it was borrowed into English use in the 21st century. Wiktionary also notes that earlier English uses may instead echo Hebrew aliyah, 'ascent', or Arabic aaliya, 'high, exalted'. Separately, alaia is the Hawaiian name of a traditional wooden surfboard, as Wikipedia notes, but that is not the source of the name.
alai (Basque, “joyful, cheerful”)
How sure is this? Probable. The modern name is mainly the Basque one; similar-sounding Hebrew and Arabic words may lie behind some uses.
Related names: Alaya, Alaiya, Aaliyah.
See also: names that mean joy.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Alaia', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Alaia', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Aleia popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #933 | 279 |
| 2020 | #1,031 | 243 |
| 2010 | #3,361 | 48 |
| 2000 | #2,817 | 51 |
| 1990 | #4,124 | 24 |
| 1980 | #4,150 | 18 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Aleia, counting every spelling?
Aleia is a spelling of Alaia, a name family that ranked #57 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #933 for Aleia on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,490 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaia | 2,318 | #117 | 11,352 |
| Alayah | 756 | #412 | 4,171 |
| Alaya | 834 | #368 | 4,129 |
| Aleia | 279 | #933 | 1,225 |
| Alaiah | 121 | #1,692 | 550 |
| Aalayah | 54 | #3,028 | 296 |
| Aleiah | 44 | #3,462 | 211 |
| Alaiia | 41 | #3,646 | 166 |
| Aalaya | 15 | #7,133 | 64 |
| Allayah | 11 | #8,893 | 57 |
| Alleia | 17 | #6,558 | 32 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Aleia?
279 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Aleia (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Aleia born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 30 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Aleia.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Aleia?
About 3,200 people born in the US named Aleia are alive today, with a median age of 7; half are between 4 and 21. That makes Aleia a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Aleia by state
How common Aleia was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (21.9×), Arizona (2.3×), California (1.9×), Texas (1.6×). In 28 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Aleia: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Aleia, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Aleia
What does Aleia mean?
Aleia is a spelling of Alaia, which means “joyful (Basque)” (Basque origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Aleia?
Aleia was the 933rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 279 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,779 places. More babies were named Aleia in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Aleia a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Aleia in the US.
Where is Aleia most popular?
In 2021–2025, Aleia was most common in Hawaii (3.31 per 1,000 girls), followed by Arizona and California.