Alieu is of West African origin, specifically from The Gambia and Senegal, where it is predominantly used. It means 'the world' in Wolof, one of the principal languages spoken in these regions. This name has a profound meaning, suggesting that the bearer is seen as someone who embodies or brings together the diverse aspects of life.
The name Alieu appears to have had periods of popularity followed by decline in the number of births registered with it between 1997 and 2023. The highest years for the name were 2006 with 14 births and 2013 with 15 births, while some years saw as few as 5 or 7 births. Overall, there have been 216 babies named Alieu during this period.