Alia? Aliyah?

[RooibosWithMilk]

So the baby could be coming any day now and me and DH are pretty stuck for girls' names. (If it's a boy we've got a few we like). The other day we came across Aliyah, and I really like the way it sounds. But I prefer the spelling Alia (even though I believe it's a Hebrew name and Aliyah is more traditional).

I don't actually know if these are two spellings of the same name or two separate names - as far as I know Aliyah is a Hebrew name meaning 'high exalted' but I'm not sure whether Alia is actually a different (possibly Arabic?) name. I thought this would be the place to ask! Does anyone know?

Also what do you think? Does it sound nice? Which spelling do you prefer?

I've heard of Alayah (A-Lay-Ah)
It was one of my favourites.

Origin: Hebrew Meaning:
To ascend; to go up

Origin: Arabic Meaning:
Lofty; sublime

Origin:Swahili Meaning:
Exalted

Or there's Aaliyah
same meanings/origins.

Never heard of it the ways you've decided upon i'm afraid.

Aaliyah is an Arabic name.

I've seen a number of spellings of this name - I find it really lovely, it has a soft, graceful sound. I know an Aalya, an Alia and an Aliya. I like the Aalya spelling best myself.

I know a 9yo Aliyah. It's a really pretty name.

All the Alliyah's I've ever taught have been delightful, serene, peaceful girls

I know people with both these names and they actually pronounce them slightly differently

Alia - A-li-a
Aliyah - Ah-lee-a
(so the second name is sort of softer and longer)

I prefer Alia out of the two, but both are lovely name.

Weirdly YoSaff I would have guessed the other way round for the pronunciations. To me, Alia = AH-lee-ah, Aliyah = Ah-LIE-ah. Not sure why