Girl · #2,047 in 2026

Aleya

In folklore, a will-o'-the-wisp, or will-o'-wisp, is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travellers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes.

Current Rank
#2,047
Peak Rank
#2,006 (2024)
Total Babies
2K
5-Yr Trend
+36%
1974
First Year
2026
Last Year
2024
Peak Year
#2006
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
50
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Aleya

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

In folklore, a will-o'-the-wisp, or will-o'-wisp, is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travellers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The term will-o'-the-wisp comes from wisp , a bundle of sticks or paper sometimes used as a torch and the name 'Will', thus meaning 'Will of the torch'. The term jack-o'-lantern ('Jack of the lantern') originally referred to a will-o'-the-wisp. In the United States, they are often called spook-lights , ghost-lights , or orbs by folklorists. The Latin name ignis fatuus is composed of ignis , meaning 'fire' and fatuus , an adjective meaning 'foolish', 'silly' or 'simple'; it can thus be literally translated into English as 'foolish fire' or more idiomatically as 'giddy flame'. Despite its Latin

The Story of Aleya

Aleya first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1974, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 97 Aleyas were born — ranking #2,006 that year. As of 2026, Aleya ranks #2,047 for baby girls with 95 births, rising sharply (+36% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Aleyas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
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Top 10
11-50
51-100
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500+
No data

Names that sound like Aleya

Phonetically similar names — useful when Aleya 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 Aleya

What does the name Aleya mean?
In folklore, a will-o'-the-wisp, or will-o'-wisp, is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travellers at night, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes.
How popular is Aleya in 2026?
In 2026, Aleya ranks #2,047 among girls' names in the U.S., with 95 babies given the name that year.
When was Aleya most popular?
Aleya reached its peak popularity in 2024, ranking #2,006 that year with 97 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Aleya most popular?
Aleya has historically been most popular in Maryland, Minnesota, Massachusetts. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Aleya.
Is Aleya a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Aleya is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Aleya?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Aleya include Berdia, Swayze, Jabria. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Berdia
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👧
Swayze
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👧
Jabria
Peak #2006
👧
Threasa
Peak #2005
👧
Alanni
Peak #2005
👧
Marguerita
Peak #2004
👧
Francena
Peak #2008
👧
Bernette
Peak #2008

About the name Aleya

Aleya is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1974 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Aleya's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #2,006. Use the chart and map above to compare Aleya's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.