Both powerful and pretty, with a melodic sound, Aaliyah joins Layla, Lila, Dana, and Farrah as a name of Arabic origin that is also popular in the English-speaking world. 
Back in 1993, the name was virtually unheard of in the US, given to only a tiny handful of girls each year. Then, the singer Aaliyah Haughton rose to fame, under her mononym “Aaliyah”. Known as the “Princess of R&B”, her debut album launched not only her career, but also her name. 
By 1994, Aaliyah was in the Top 300, where it stayed until the tragic death of the singer in 2001. Rather than the name becoming associated with tragedy, it jumped into the US Top 100, where it has remained ever since.
A feminine form of the Arabic name Aali, Aaliyah means “high, sublime, lofty” or “exalted.” With its distinguished but approachable feel, Aaliyah has seen widespread usage, and as a result, has a number of spelling variants, including Aliyah, Aliyyah, Alia, Aleah, Aliye, and Aleia. 
Distinctive but familiar, it is understandable why Aaliyah was able to break into the American charts. Given to over 3000 babies each year in the US, it also ranks highly in the UK and France, while other spelling variations are more popular across the world. 
Boosted to fame by the singer and her legacy, and a reflection of today’s multicultural societies, Aaliyah remains an elegant and popular choice. If you are interested in Aaliyah, you could explore other Arabic names, such as Nadira, Amal, Anisa, or Munira. If it’s just the sound you like, then Tallulah, Alara, and Alodia might appeal.

Aaliyah

The original spelling of a name often Anglicized as Anisa was chosen by singer Macy Gray for her daughter.

Aanisah

ABERASH

Perfect name for a Virgo or an Aries baby. It is also the name of a character in the fantasy Belgariad series.

Adara

Name of an Old Testament soldier that's been also used as a girls' name in modern Israel. An alternate spelling is Adinah. Some mistake Adina and Adinah to be the root of Dinah, but the Biblical name Dinah is borne by a different figure and has a different meaning. You can consider the modern short forms Dena and Dina as stemming from either Adina or Dinah.

Adina

Adira is one of those rare names that's both little-used and simple, and crosses languages easily. Pronounced ah-DEER-ah, Adira is given to only a handful of girls in the US each year and could make a worthy substitute for such overexposed favorites as Ava and Ariana.
 
Serena Williams recently named her daughter Adira River, which is guaranteed to boost this name's profile.

Adira

Aisha was Muhammad's favorite wife, making this lovely name and its myriad variations hugely popular among Muslims and also African-Americans. It's been energized by TV personality Aisha Tyler. Pronunciation is usually eye-EE-sha but some say ay-sha.

Aisha

Bright and bold traditionally masculine name used in Israel. 

Akiva

The name of nine minor male biblical characters, this could easily make a gender switch as a singular substitution for the popular Mariah. 

Amariah

The name of a Guaraní princess killed by Spanish conquistadors in Tupi-Guarani legend. A Ceibo tree – the national flower of Argentina – is said to have bloomed in the spot where she died.

 The meaning of the name is uncertain. It may be related to the Tupi word for "maize", or it may be related to Anahita or Anaïs, meaning "immaculate". Mononymous Mexican singer and actress Anahí is a famous bearer.

 Anahí is also a gemstone name: a variety of quartz with distinctive purple and orange sections, found in the Anahi mine in Bolivia. The mine is said to have been named after an Aroyeo princess who married a Spanish conquistador and was accidentally killed trying to save him from assassination. She is said to have presented him with one of the gemstones as she lay dying – the differently colored halves of the stone representing her heart torn between her love for her husband and her love for her people.

Anahi

This Indian name meaning gift or offering feels familiar via sound-alikes Angela or Angelina, and made a brief appearance on the U.S. Top 1000. Anjali is a pretty route to a name that's at once easy to understand and uncommon.

Anjali

Aphra would make an interesting choice-- especially since it's the name of the first professional female writer in English, the seventeenth century's Aphra Behn. Born in 1640, she was a prolific dramatist of the English Restoration, and a spy.
 The spelling Aphra was probably inspired by the biblical place name Aphrah, but in medieval English records it also had spellings such as Eaffry and Affery, and is thought to derive from Anglo-Saxon names such as Aethelthryth and Aelthryth — which would make it a cousin of Audrey.
 In antiquity, Afra was also a name for a woman from Africa that eventually became a given name, and was borne by several Roman saints.

Aphra

A phonetically attractive place-name that can be used for babies but rarely is.

Arabia

Unknown but eminently usable choice, especially for Jewish parents, with lovely meaning. 

Arava

Its meaning refers to the rich wood that lined the walls of King Solomon's temple.  Well used in modern Israel, it's pronouced ah-REE-zuh.

Ariza

Ashira

This name of a minor character in the Old Testament, also spelled Atara, has a softly pleasing sound. In the Old Testament, Atarah was a descendant of Judah.


Atarah

Athalia was an Old Testament daughter of Jezebel and a king's powerful wife with a gory history. You don't wanna know -- and you probably don't wanna name your kid after her either. Pretty name, though, and one that's in step with the current fashions for A beginnings and endings as well as for distinctive names with deep roots.  Atalia is a simplified spelling..

Athalia

ATIENO

A name quite common in India, with a soft but spirited sound and an attractive meaning for lovers of nature. V is one of the hottest letters a girl name can have — Olivia, Ava, Evelyn, and Ivy being notable examples — putting Avani right on trend. We were excited to see this gorgeous Hindi name join the US Top 1000 for girls in 2023.

Avani

Aviva is vivacious and memorable, a fresh spin on the Vivian and Vivienne names that have been getting more popular since Angelina and Brad chose one for their twin daughter. Another A-beginning palindrome name: Aziza. 

Aviva

Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize.
<p<>In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
 Aziz is the male version, as represented by Aziz Ansari, one of the stars of Parks and Recreation.

Aziza

Azize

Amarachi

Popular with the Puritans, this name of the shrewd and beautiful wife of King David and mother of King Solomon could be a bit of a load for a modern girl to carry. 
 Bathsheba is the name of the central character in the Thomas Hardy novel Far from the Madding Crowd and there's a Harry Potter character named Bathsheba Babbling, Ancient Runes professor at Hogwarts.

Bathsheba

Namibian supermodel Behati Prinsloo, who has walked the runway for every designer from Prada to Versace to Vera Wang, has introduced us to this Afrikaans version of Beate or Beatrice, a rhythmic twist on an international favorite.

Behati

Similar in sound to the flower name Dahlia, this gentle but distinctive name, heard in many cultures, hits that Golden Mean between too popular and too unusual. In Lithuanian mythology, Dalia is a goddess of weaving and of fate.

Dalia

A Scottish favorite that could make it here thanks to its similarity to the word divine. It's the most popular of several feminizations of David used in Scotland, including Davida, Davinia and Davidina, which have less of a chance in the U.S. It reentered the US Top 1000 for the first time in two decades in 2016.

Davina

Feminine but strong name heard in Israel. 

Doveva

Igbo name made more familiar by its relationship to the popular Belle and Bella.

Ebele

Elisheva was the original name of Aaron's wife in the Book of Exodus; Elisheva gains strength and distinction via the v sound. 

Elisheva

A variant of Asha, which is related to the classic Arabic name Aisha, yet another way to say life.  Other on-the-rise names with this uplifting meaning: Zoe and Vivian varieties such as Viviana, Viveca, and Vivienne.

Eshe

Girlish for Ethan: attractive and unusual. 

Etana

Instead of the more obvious Aqua, Turquoise, or Blue, consider this offbeat Arabic name, brought into the American name pool by actress Fairuza Balk (named by her father for the color of her eyes). Since turquoise is the birthstone for December, Fairuza is one of the perfect <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/577/names-for-december-babies">names for December babies</a>.

Fairuza

HASINA

An alternative to the more familiar Aviva. 

Haviva

Indigo is one of the most appealing and evocative of the new generation of color names. Color names have joined flower and jewel names -- in a big way -- and Indigo, a deep blue-purple dye from plants native to India, is particularly striking for both girls and boys. Indigo is the name of a character in the Ntozake Shange novel Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo, and was used for his daughter by Lou Diamond Phillips.
 Some cultural references: The Indigo Girls are a folk duo, 'Mood Indigo' is a classic Duke Ellington jazz composition, and there is a 1970's New Age theory that Indigo children possess special, sometimes supernatural abilities.

Indigo

A striking and feminine possibility associated with a modern hero — longtime Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi. 

Indira

Perhaps to honor an ancestral Abraham, but presents a confusing image. 

Ivria

Attractive, rhythmic choice with roots in several languages and cultures. It's a lesser-known a celestial name, meaning "star" in Basque and referring to a star in the constellation Boötes in Arabic.

Izara

Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a strong woman, the power behind the throne. Previously avoided as a baby name, Jezebel is now, along with the also previously avoided Delilah and Desiree, coming into use, helped by its relation to other 'bel' name such as Isabel and Bella.
 
The popular feminist celebrity blog Jezebel upped the name's cool factor. Jezebel is the title of one of Bette Davis's best known early films.

Jezebel

Jivanta

Kalindi is a lovely, rhythmic name refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India. 

Kalindi

Spirit that protects babies from illness...and surname of designer Naomi. 

Kamali

Energetic choice that bounces off the tongue. 

Kanika

Kelilah, also spelled Kelila, is a lovely and unusual name that would make a perfect substitute for the trendy Delilah.

Kelilah

Often heard in India, this is the name of the Hindu goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity, the embodiment of grace and charm --lucky omens indeed. The goddess Lakshmi is worshiped daily in Hindu homes, and has festivals held in her honor.
 Lakshmi Singh is an NPR newscaster. Surnamed Padma Lakshmi is a Top Chef host.

Lakshmi

LILAVATI

MANDISA

A name with the kind of pan-cultural feel that's in vogue now... and forever. A French variant, Marjane, belongs to the author of the iconic graphic memoir Persepolis.

Marjani

MASIKA

This Hebrew water name has two main popular associations: Mayim Bialik, who played the title role in the early 90s TV series "Blossom," and the popular Israeli folk dance, "Mayim, Mayim."

Mayim

Interesting Old Testament name that embraces many traditional female attributes; also name of a place in the Jordan Valley. In the Bible, a daughter of King Ammon and wife of Solomon.

Naamah

Sultry name given added interest by that double 'a'.

Naava

NAILAH

Najila

Nashira is one of those obscure space names that might rise along with such heavenly choices as Orion, Luna, and even Nevaeh.  A giant star in Capricorn, Nashira is an unusual and attractive name with several positive associations.

Nashira

A variation of Nila, a name spread through African by the substantial Indian population there.  Also a variant of Neala and Neila.

Neela

Offbeat name sometimes heard in the African-American community. 

Neema

Friendly and energetic name from the Mende language of West Africa.

Nemy

Because of its meaning, this is a symbolic name given to girls born on Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. 

Nera

Also an Israeli place-name, this is an unusual, feminine choice. 

Niva

Has a pleasantly fizzy, effervescent feeling. 

Nizana

An interesting name associated with the elegant American-born Queen Noor of Jordan. Noor is very popular among modern Muslim parents around the world and is beginning to cross over, perhaps because of its simplicity and its resemblance to the stylish Western Nora. It appeared in the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.

Noor

Nyala is a secret nature name with a fashionable animal meaning. Nyala might be an appropriate name for a baby girl born under the sign of Capricorn, which is symbolized by the goat, or in the Chinese Year of the Goat -- though the last one was 2015 and we won't have another until 2027. Although the nee beginning is most frequently cited as the correct pronunciation, the name can -- and often will -- be pronounced with the first syllable rhyming with my and sigh.

Nyala

Feminine form of Ophir, a Biblical place name famed for its riches.

Ophira

Striking and glamorous, though perhaps just plain Zara is intriguing enough. 

Ozara

A name rich in Hindu tradition as the alternate name for the Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty and charm; currently borne, appropriately, by model-actress-writer Padma Lakshmi. 

Padma

Funny how one letter can turn a name from ordinary to special.  Parisa is so much more distinctive than either Marisa or Paris.

Parisa

Interesting on paper, though most people would confuse it with the word peruse. 

Perouze

The name Persia derives from Avestan Parsa, the name of the Indo-European nomadic people who migrated into southern Iran in about 1000 BCE. Persis or Persea, the feminine form of Perseus, feel more namelike.

Persia

Twist on the attractive and underused biblical name Keturah.

Qiturah

Ramana

Raniyah

Raziya

A possible alternative to the better-known Shoshona. 

Rishona

ROSHANARA

RUKMINI

This is a soft and strong Arabic and Persian name commonly heard in the Middle East. 

Sahar

Shiny cousin of Samara with an intriguing meaning. Increasingly associated with the charming Samira Wiley, a perennial scene-stealer on "Orange is the New Black" and "The Handmaid's Tale."

Samira

Simple-yet-unusual name with a creative meaning. Actress Sanaa Lathan promoted it, and it was on the U.S. popularity list from 2003 to 2011. Shaquille O'Neal used it as the middle name of his daughter Amirah. And spelled Sana'a, it's the capital of Yemen.
 Sanne, a popular name in the Netherlands, has a similar feel, as does Sana. Sana'a is also a place name, being the capital of Yemen.

Sanaa

Acting couple Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof chose this Sanskrit word meaning, literally, "truth vehicle" for their daughter.  It has a melodic sound and strong meaning.  Think of it as rhyming with the Russian Tatiana.

Satyana

SCHEHERAZADE

Shafira

Shamira

It would be easy to dismiss this girlish name as invented fluff, but it has roots in several cultures with evocative meanings and references. Shani refers to the "scarlet thread" or theme of a story. Shani is also the name of a Hindu god and the Sanskrit word for the planet Saturn. And it's a Swahili name also found in other African cultures that means marvelous.

Shani

This Hindi word which is used in prayer is one of the prime <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/411/baby-names-that-mean-peace">names that mean peace</a>, always a nice message to impart to a child. Nick Nolte used it for his daughter.

Shanti

The tale-spinning heroine of The Thousand and One Nights, Sheherazade is an extravagantly elaborate name for a little girl. Too extravagantly elaborate? It's lovely and beguiling, and with the rise of such evocative monikers as Persephone and Ophelia, Sheherazade may have a chance in the modern baby name world.

Another accepted spelling is Scheherazade. While the origin of this name is Persian, there are also modern Arabic forms of the name.

Sheherazade

Tahira is a pretty Arabic virtue name, unusual yet accessible. 

Tahira

Taja

The raja sequence of sounds gives it a regal feel. 

Taraja

Tavora is an attractive option, based on the name of a mountain in northern Israel. But the meaning of Tavora and brother name Tavor is less than optimal.

Tavora

As a name, Topaz is sophisticated and sultry; as a golden gem, it's said to have healing and energizing properties and also to bring good luck-- and being the birthstone for November it's one of the perfect <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/605/names-for-november-babies">names for November babies</a>, with that final 'z' giving it some extra sizzle.
 The topaz gets its name via French and Latin from Greek; it is probably ultimately of oriental origin.
 There is an eponymous novel by Leon Uris--later made into a 1969 Hitchcock movie--in which Topaz was the name not of a person but a spy code name, and in the Dodie Smith novel I Capture the Castle, there is a character named Topaz Mortmain.

Topaz

This Persian name with an Old Testament pedigree has a warm Sasha-like feel. The Biblical Vashti was a queen who refused her husband's orders to appear naked in front of his party guests and so was deposed in favor of Esther. For her independent spirit, Vashti has become something of a feminist icon.

Vashti

The longer form of Xia is more rhythmic but also more problematic. 

Xiamara

The multicultural Yara is also the name of a beautiful green-skinned Brazilian goddess and might make a more unusual spin on Mara or Sara. Yara Greyjoy is the name of a strong female character in HBO's Game of Thrones, sister to the troubled Theon. In George R.R. Martin's books, this same character is named Asha; the show's producers changed it to avoid confusion with similar-sounding Osha.

Yara

ZAFIRAH

Zahara, a delicate but strong multicultural name, came into the spotlight when Angelina Jolie bestowed it on her Ethiopian-born daughter, and we predict other parents will adopt it as well. If you want something simpler than Zahara, consider Zara, a royal name in England--but also the name of a Spanish-based clothing store chain.


Zahara

Zahira is the feminine form of Zahir.  Some may relate it to the more familiar Zahara.

Zahira

Zala

AlexandrianScrolls's list "Exotic, Sultry Names for Girls" of 110 great name ideas: Aaliyah - Zuelia!

Exotic, Sultry Names for Girls

Evocative of burning frankincense, Old World spices, and the golden, candlelit walls of ancient ruins at dusk.