At a glance
- In short
- Alieu is a masculine given name of Fula origin, tracing back to the Arabic Ali, which conveys notions of being “exalted” or “noble.”
- U.S. rank 2025
- #7,194 of boy names (outside the top 1,000)
- Babies in 2025
- 11 (<0.01% of boys)
- Trend
- Rising #9,554 in 2020 to #7,194 in 2025
- Peak
- #5,659 in 2013
- First recorded
- 1997
Meaning of Alieu
Alieu is a masculine given name of Fula origin, tracing back to the Arabic Ali, which conveys notions of being “exalted” or “noble.” Widely used among West African Fula communities—particularly in Gambia and Senegal—the name has found modest footing in the United States, where annual counts since the late 1990s have varied between five and fifteen newborn boys. National popularity has oscillated between the high 700s (peaking at 788th in 1997) and the mid-900s (915th in 2024), indicative of a stable yet uncommon presence. Pronounced uh-LEE-oo (/əˈliuː/), Alieu offers cultural depth without inviting constant spelling corrections, presenting parents with a subtly distinctive option.
How to pronounce Alieu
English
- Pronounced uh-LEE-oo /əˈliuː/
Popularity of Alieu in the U.S.
Alieu was the #7,194 boy name in the U.S. in 2025, with 11 babies. It peaked at #5,659 in 2013. It first appears in the records in 1997.
- Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
Year-by-year table, 1997–2025 26 rows
| Year | Babies | Rank | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 7,194 | ▲ 1,118 |
| 2024 | 9 | 8,312 | ▼ 1,023 |
| 2023 | 11 | 7,289 | ▲ 1,011 |
| 2022 | 9 | 8,300 | ▲ 525 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8,825 | ▲ 729 |
| 2020 | 7 | 9,554 | ▼ 1,339 |
| 2019 | 9 | 8,215 | ▼ 598 |
| 2018 | 10 | 7,617 | ▼ 1,279 |
| 2017 | 13 | 6,338 | ▲ 11 |
| 2016 | 13 | 6,349 | back (not recorded in 2015) |
| 2014 | 7 | 9,642 | ▼ 3,983 |
| 2013 | 15 | 5,659 | ▲ 2,499 |
| 2012 | 9 | 8,158 | ▲ 1,442 |
| 2011 | 7 | 9,600 | ▲ 93 |
| 2010 | 7 | 9,693 | ▼ 2,001 |
| 2009 | 10 | 7,692 | ▼ 505 |
| 2008 | 11 | 7,187 | ▲ 3,734 |
| 2007 | 6 | 10,921 | ▼ 5,140 |
| 2006 | 14 | 5,781 | ▲ 3,334 |
| 2005 | 7 | 9,115 | ▲ 833 |
| 2004 | 6 | 9,948 | ▼ 3,233 |
| 2003 | 10 | 6,715 | ▼ 627 |
| 2002 | 11 | 6,088 | back (not recorded in 2001) |
| 2000 | 6 | 9,112 | ▲ 800 |
| 1999 | 5 | 9,912 | back (not recorded in 1998) |
| 1997 | 5 | 9,265 | new |
Notable people named Alieu
- Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof was a Gambian historian, author and activist who championed his country's independence.
- Alieu Darbo is a Swedish-born Gambian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger and represented Gambia at youth level.
- Alieu Kosiah is a former Liberian rebel commander who settled in Switzerland after the First Liberian Civil War.
- Alieu Badara Njie was a Gambian statesman who helped secure his country's independence and served as its third vice president from 1977 to 1981.
- Alieu Fadera is a Gambian footballer who plays as a winger for Cagliari and the Gambia national team.
More people named Alieu 2 more
- Alieu Badara Saja Taal was a Gambian academic and politician.
- Alieu Jatta is a Gambian international footballer who plays as a defender for Egypt's El Gouna.