Ala
Ala or Alaa is an Arabic masculine given name meaning "elevation, exaltedness, highness, loftiness, sublimity" or "honor and glory, might, power, dignity" or "prestige, greatness, noble, high in rank" or "eminence, glorious, grandeur" or "high in position and status". The name is also used as a feminine given name.
- Arabic
- Igbo Mythology
- Polish
Meaning & Origin of Ala
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ala or Alaa is an Arabic masculine given name meaning "elevation, exaltedness, highness, loftiness, sublimity" or "honor and glory, might, power, dignity" or "prestige, greatness, noble, high in rank" or "eminence, glorious, grandeur" or "high in position and status". The name is also used as a feminine given name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Arabic
- Igbo Mythology
- Polish
The Story of Ala
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Ala as a girl name dates back to 1889, when 5 babies received it. 2017 was its biggest year on record, with 24 newborns named Ala — #5,337 in the national rankings. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 20% of all recorded Alas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #8,308 among girl names with 11 births, falling sharply (-32%). In total, more than 802 Alas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Ala on the record books as a boy name in 1958, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1986, when 10 Alas were born — ranking #4,130 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 42% of all recorded Alas. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2011 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 142 Alas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Ala
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Ala. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Ala
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ala is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ala
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About the name Ala
Ala is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1889 and has accumulated 802 births in the dataset. Ala's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #1,279. Use the chart and map above to compare Ala's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2017 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.