Caaliyah is of African-American origin, derived from the Arabic name Kahliah, which means 'tent' or 'temporary dwelling.' It is a unique and beautiful name that gained popularity in the late 20th century. The spelling Caaliyah is an American variation, with some other spellings including Kaeli, Kailey, and Kaylie. This name has no consistent historical usage but has been increasingly used as a given name since the 1980s. It is often associated with modern trends in naming, favoring phonetic spelling variations and unique sounds.
The name Caaliyah has seen varying popularity over time, with a total of 21 babies given this name between 2011 and 2023. There was a notable dip in usage during the years not recorded (2012, 2014-2022), as only two years had more than one birth each: 5 births in both 2011 and 2015, and a peak of 6 births in 2013.