Fun Facts About the Name Alaa
- More than 1 thousand babies named Alaa: U.S. records list 1,988 babies given the name Alaa from 1880 through 2025. Even 464 boys received the name Alaa - about 1 boy for every 3 girls.
What Does the Name Alaa Mean?
Alaa is an Arabic name that means "excellence" or "elevation." It comes from the root ʿ-l-w (ع ل و), which carries the core sense of being high, rising, or being exalted. In Arabic script the name is written علاء. Its literal meaning is "highness" or "elevation," and it is commonly understood as "excellence" or "eminence." The name also appears in the compound form Alaa al-Din (علاء الدين), meaning "excellence of the religion." While it shares the root with names such as Ali and Aaliyah, each has its own distinct history and usage.
Alaa Name History & Origins
The name Alaa has been in use since the early Islamic period. One of the earliest known bearers is Ala' ibn al-Hadrami (العلاء بن الحضرمي), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad who served as governor of Bahrain in the 7th century. This indicates the name was used among the first generations of Muslims. As Arabic spread with the Islamic conquests, the name traveled to regions such as the Levant, Iraq, Egypt, and North Africa. It is common in the Arab world and among Muslim communities, and in some regions it is also given to girls. The name is not tied to a particular literary work; its history is rooted in Arabic naming traditions. Over the centuries, it has been transliterated in various ways, including Alaa, Ala'a, and Alaa'. It remains a common given name in many Arab countries and among Muslim communities worldwide.
How Popular is the Name Alaa?
Alaa has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2017. Its best rank was #2,780 in 2017.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,211 | 49 | 0.0030% |
| 2024 | #2,814 | 59 | 0.0037% |
| 2023 | #3,908 | 38 | 0.0024% |
| 2022 | #3,173 | 51 | 0.0031% |
| 2021 | #3,293 | 48 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #3,338 | 46 | 0.0028% |
| 2019 | #2,814 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 2018 | #3,109 | 52 | 0.0031% |
| 2017 | #2,780 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 2016 | #3,140 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 2015 | #3,025 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 2014 | #3,228 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 2013 | #3,268 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 2012 | #3,467 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2011 | #3,603 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 2010 | #4,185 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2009 | #4,686 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2008 | #3,864 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 2007 | #4,949 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2006 | #4,465 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2005 | #4,376 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2004 | #3,904 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2003 | #4,947 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2002 | #4,501 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2001 | #3,417 | 39 | 0.0022% |
| 2000 | #2,940 | 48 | 0.0026% |
| 1999 | #3,509 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1998 | #3,834 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1997 | #3,898 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1996 | #3,507 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1995 | #3,493 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1994 | #4,243 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #3,988 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #3,773 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1991 | #3,371 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1990 | #4,383 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1989 | #4,856 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1988 | #7,701 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #5,075 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #9,563 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #6,465 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #5,547 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #5,827 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #5,917 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #5,892 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #10,738 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #8,979 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #9,789 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #9,006 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #9,760 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #10,647 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #8,918 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #8,845 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #8,870 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #6,732 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #12,181 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #8,138 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2012 | #8,886 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #7,517 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #8,166 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #6,815 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #11,093 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #8,948 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #9,608 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #10,182 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #5,820 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #6,728 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #4,919 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #4,482 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2000 | #5,047 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #6,052 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #4,880 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #4,966 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #4,891 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #3,022 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1994 | #2,952 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #4,450 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #3,222 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #4,237 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1990 | #4,675 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #3,620 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1988 | #4,456 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #4,973 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #3,887 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1985 | #6,548 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #3,705 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #4,507 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #5,640 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #4,948 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #6,076 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Alaa Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Alaa's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Alaa's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.