Malia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: mah-LEE-ah /məˈliːə/
Origin: Hawaiian; Hebrew
Meaning: Hawaiian: calm; Hebrew: queen
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Malia has its roots in the Hawaiian language, where it is derived from the word "malia," meaning "calm" or "peaceful." This name is often considered a variant of the name Maria, which has a rich etymological history tracing back to Hebrew. The Hebrew name Miriam, which is believed to mean "sea of bitterness" or "wished-for child," evolved into Greek as Maria, and subsequently into Latin as Maria, before making its way into various languages, including English.
The transition from Maria to Malia reflects a cultural adaptation, particularly within Hawaiian culture, where names often carry significant meanings related to nature and tranquility. Historically, the name Malia has been associated with various cultural and religious figures, particularly in the context of Christianity, where Maria is a prominent name due to its association with the Virgin Mary.
The Virgin Mary is a central figure in Christian theology, revered for her role as the mother of Jesus Christ. This association has contributed to the name's enduring significance across different cultures and languages.
The name Maria appears in many historical texts, including the Latin Vulgate Bible, which was completed in the late 4th century, and has been a popular name among saints and monarchs throughout history. Culturally, Malia embodies qualities of serenity and peace, reflecting the natural beauty and calmness often associated with the Hawaiian islands.
The name has been embraced not only for its phonetic appeal but also for its positive connotations. In Hawaiian culture, names are often chosen for their meanings and the values they represent, making Malia a fitting choice for those who wish to convey a sense of tranquility.
The name may also be affectionately shortened to Mali, which retains the essence of its original meaning while providing a more informal variant.
Famous people named Malia
In this section, you will find notable people named Malia. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Malia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Malia who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Malia Obama is an author and public figure best known for being the daughter of Barack Obama and Michelle Obama.
Fictional characters named Malia
The following list of fictional characters named Malia is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Malia Tate is a fictional character from the TV series Teen Wolf. She is a werecoyote who becomes a key member of the pack and plays a significant role in the later seasons.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Malia, 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 Malia. 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 Malia was first seen in the United States in 1919.
Malia has ranked as high as #392 nationally, which occurred in 2009, and has been most popular in California, Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Malia has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Malia 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 Malia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Malia (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 | 109 | |
| FL | 76 | |
| TX | 64 | |
| NY | 44 | |
| GA | 42 | |
| OH | 34 | |
| VA | 33 | |
| PA | 30 | |
| IL | 26 | |
| WA | 26 | |
| NC | 25 | |
| MN | 24 | |
| MD | 22 | |
| NJ | 20 | |
| TN | 20 |
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 Malia.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 946 |
| 2023 | 1,146 |
| 2022 | 1,191 |
| 2021 | 1,204 |
| 2020 | 1,171 |
| 2019 | 1,264 |
| 2018 | 1,279 |
| 2017 | 1,429 |
| 2016 | 1,236 |
| 2015 | 1,031 |
| 2014 | 955 |
| 2013 | 959 |
| 2012 | 899 |
| 2011 | 1,011 |
| 2010 | 1,075 |
| 2009 | 1,700 |
| 2008 | 968 |
| 2007 | 817 |
| 2006 | 784 |
| 2005 | 741 |
| 2004 | 681 |
| 2003 | 706 |
| 2002 | 682 |
| 2001 | 585 |
| 2000 | 541 |
| 1999 | 423 |
| 1998 | 353 |
| 1997 | 308 |
| 1996 | 269 |
| 1995 | 227 |
| 1994 | 190 |
| 1993 | 178 |
| 1992 | 189 |
| 1991 | 181 |
| 1990 | 159 |
| 1989 | 165 |
| 1988 | 142 |
| 1987 | 136 |
| 1986 | 108 |
| 1985 | 130 |
| 1984 | 146 |
| 1983 | 151 |
| 1982 | 164 |
| 1981 | 151 |
| 1980 | 149 |
| 1979 | 136 |
| 1978 | 142 |
| 1977 | 149 |
| 1976 | 107 |
| 1975 | 94 |
| 1974 | 99 |
| 1973 | 77 |
| 1972 | 91 |
| 1971 | 69 |
| 1970 | 63 |
| 1969 | 64 |
| 1968 | 44 |
| 1967 | 56 |
| 1966 | 41 |
| 1965 | 57 |
| 1964 | 37 |
| 1963 | 43 |
| 1962 | 47 |
| 1961 | 28 |
| 1960 | 32 |
| 1959 | 22 |
| 1958 | 33 |
| 1957 | 59 |
| 1956 | 68 |
| 1955 | 88 |
| 1954 | 48 |
| 1952 | 5 |
| 1946 | 5 |
| 1919 | 5 |