Malala Girl

Popularity: #945 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

Pronunciationmah-LAH-lah / /məˈlɑːlə/

Arabic; Pashto

Meaning

grief; sadness (Arabic); virtuous (Pashto)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Malala has Arabic roots, where it signifies grief or sadness, often associated with the concept of mourning. In Pashto, it conveys the meaning of virtuous or good, reflecting cultural values in Afghan society. The name gained prominence through Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education, who became a symbol of resilience and courage. The name is celebrated in various cultures, particularly in regions where Pashto is spoken.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Malalah
  • Malalaah

International Variants

  • Malala (Arabic)
  • Malala (Pashto)

Famous people named Malala

Malala Yousafzai — activist for girls' education.

Malala Joya — Afghan politician and activist.

Fictional characters named Malala

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Malala was first seen in the United States in 2013. Malala has ranked as high as #1366 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in . In the past 5 years the name Malala has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Malala

No state data available for this year.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
20139
201411
201510
201610
20178
201813
201911
20216
20226
20236
20245