Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, New York to Michael and Diane Haughton, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. Her name means "Highest, Most Exalted, The Best" in both Arabic and Hebrew. Her maternal grandmother, Mintis L. Hicks Hankerson, gave her the middle name Dana. Aaliyah is of both African American and Native American ancestry. Aaliyah was brought up as a Christian with her older brother Rashad Haughton. Diane Haughton, Aaliyah's mother, also a vocalist, encouraging her daughter's career.
In 1989, she appeared on the TV talent show Star Search at age 10, singing her mother's favorite song, "My Funny Valentine". Although she did not win, she remained a good sport and continued to perfect her skills. Aaliyah worked with an agent in New York and auditioned for TV shows, including Family Matters.
