Malana Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mah-LAH-nah //məˈlɑː.nə//
Origin: Hebrew; Hawaiian
Meaning: Hebrew: 'gift from God'; Hawaiian: 'calm, peaceful'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Malana has roots in multiple linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Hebrew name "Mahlah," which means "sick" or "healing." This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Numbers, where Mahlah is one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, who successfully petitioned for their inheritance rights, thereby becoming symbols of female empowerment in biblical narratives. The name was later adopted into Greek as "Mahlah," and subsequently into Latin, maintaining its original form and meaning.
The transition into English likely occurred through biblical translations, particularly the King James Bible in the early 17th century, which popularized many biblical names in English-speaking cultures. Throughout history, the name Malana has been associated with themes of healing and resilience, reflecting its etymological roots.
In various cultures, names that signify health or recovery have been revered, often linked to the belief in the power of names to influence destiny. The biblical story of Mahlah and her sisters has been interpreted as a narrative of justice and advocacy, further enhancing the name's significance in religious and cultural contexts.
The name has also been embraced in various forms across different cultures, with diminutive or related forms emerging in different languages, though these variations are less documented. Culturally, the name Malana resonates with notions of strength and determination, particularly in the context of women's rights and inheritance, as exemplified by the biblical Mahlah.
This historical backdrop contributes to the name's enduring appeal, as it embodies both a personal identity and a broader narrative of empowerment. The name's journey through languages and cultures illustrates the interconnectedness of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, making Malana a name rich in historical and symbolic meaning.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Malana, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Malana. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Malana was first seen in the United States in 1953.
Malana has ranked as high as #1321 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Florida, Ohio, New York, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Malana has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Malana is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Malana was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Malana (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Malana.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2018 | 33 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2010 | 32 |
| 2009 | 42 |
| 2008 | 41 |
| 2007 | 67 |
| 2006 | 52 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2004 | 51 |
| 2003 | 33 |
| 2002 | 30 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2000 | 23 |
| 1999 | 26 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1997 | 11 |
| 1996 | 11 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1994 | 8 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 11 |
| 1991 | 16 |
| 1990 | 9 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1987 | 7 |
| 1986 | 6 |
| 1984 | 5 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1982 | 8 |
| 1981 | 8 |
| 1980 | 9 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 16 |
| 1977 | 19 |
| 1976 | 9 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1974 | 12 |
| 1973 | 9 |
| 1972 | 7 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1968 | 10 |
| 1966 | 8 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1962 | 6 |
| 1960 | 8 |
| 1953 | 7 |