User-created list
Alternatives to Aaliyah
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Issa
Variation of Isa, German
"strong-willed"
Issa might make more sense if you're using it as a nickname for any one of the various names ending in -issa, but this spelling is also an Arabic and Hebrew boy name. The Isa spelling is almost…
Laiyah
Variant of Leia
Is this a yoonek spelling of Star Wars name Leia? A shortened take on Aaliyah? Laila with a Valley Girl accent? A complicated anagram of Hailey? Maybe all of the above. It's been growing in…
Leela
Sanskrit
"play"
While Leela may be a spelling variation of Lila or Leila, it's also an Indian name in its own right with a playful meaning. And unlike it's more popular Western sisters, Leela does not create…
Maliah
Spelling variation of Malia, Hawaiian version of Mary
"bitter"
Maliah is a spelling variation of former First Daughter's name Malia and has seen some use since it first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2009.
Odelia
Hebrew, German
"I will praise the Lord or wealth"
Pretty Hebrew name that would create a strong but feminine impression, as well as a variant of the Germanic name Odilia or Ottilie.
Olanna
Olanna is a feminine name with Nigerian origins, particularly associated with the Igbo culture. The name gained literary recognition through Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel 'Half of a Yellow Sun,'…
Palina
Palina is a feminine name with Slavic origins, primarily used in Belarus, Russia, and other Eastern European countries. It represents a variation of Paulina or Polina, ultimately derived from the…
Quintilla
Quintilla is a feminine name with Latin roots, derived from the Roman family name 'Quintus,' which means 'fifth.' Historically, it would have been given to the fifth child or a child born in the…
Rima
Arabic; Lithuaniian
"white antelope; to calm down, to quieten"
Nature girl played by Audrey Hepburn in "Green Mansions," it now has an old-style bohemian feel.
Safiyya
Arabic
"confidante, best friend"
The fact that this is pronounced sah-FEE-yah would cause Western ears to hear it as Sophia.
Sana
Arabic
"mountaintop, splendid, brilliant"
One of the most easily imported Arabic names.
Taliyah
Variation of Talia or combination of Taylor and Aliyah
Taliyah is an elaboration of Talia or a modern smoosh name, combining Taylor and Aliyah. Taliyah does sound natural, but we're not sure it improves on any of its originals.
Ulalia
Ulalia is a feminine name with ancient Greek origins, likely a variation of Eulalia, which means 'sweetly speaking' or 'well-spoken.' The name has historical significance as Saint Eulalia was a young…
Ullima
Ullima is an extremely rare feminine name with possible roots in several linguistic traditions. It may be related to the Latin word "ultimus" meaning "final" or "ultimate," suggesting someone who…
Vega
Arabic, Spanish
"swooping eagle; meadow"
Another astral name, this one relating to one of the largest and brightest stars in the heavens, is popular in Scandinavia and Spain, where it ranks among the Top 50 girls' names . Although still…
Willamina
Variation of Wilhelmina, German
"resolute protection"
Classic Wilhelmina is still the dominant form of this name, but the more intuitive, streamlined Willamina is rising alongside it. The phonetic spelling eliminates some of Wilhelmina's bulk, taking it…
Zayna
Arabic
"beauty, grace"
Zayna is a simplified spelling of Zaynab, the name of the eldest daughter of Muhammad, and also the feminine version of Zayn. Zaina is a widely-used spelling variation. Zainabu is another form of the…