Jalayah is a modern American name formed from the Ja- prefix and the -layah ending heard in Aaliyah and Jaliyah, so it is usually read as a variant of Jaliyah or an echo of the Arabic Aaliyah, "exalted" or "lofty". It has no single traditional source; its appeal lies in the flowing three-syllable sound. Jalayah has stayed remarkably steady, between number 1445 and number 2000 every year since 2015, and ranks 1786 in 2025.