Given name
Malaika
“a heavenly messenger; an angel”
Malaika is a variant of Malak. One Arabic interpretation is “a heavenly messenger; an angel.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Malaika is a variant of Malak. One Arabic interpretation is “a heavenly messenger; an angel.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Malaika is a variant of Malak. An origin associated with Malak is Arabic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1968. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Malaika through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,662
- 0 boys · 2,662 girls
- Most popular year
- 2006
- 86 babies
- 2025
- 78
- #2,344 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +24%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 78 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,344 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 23.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Massachusetts had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,190 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Malaika’s family of names
Malaika has a related form in Malak.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Malaika
- Malaika AroraIndian actressborn 1975
- Malaika MihamboGerman athletics competitorborn 1994
- Malaika Firthmodelborn 1994
- Malaika GoelIndian shooterborn 1997
- Malaika RapoluAmerican tennis playerborn 2003
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Malaika, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Makayla
“who is like God?”
>99% girls
Makenna
“daughter of the handsome man” · “the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Maliyah
Maliyah is a feminine given name, probably from Hawaiian.
>99% girls
Mashyia
>99% girls
Makeyla
>99% girls
Mahkyla
>99% girls
Malaya
“an independent woman; one who is free”
>99% girls
Makaelah
>99% girls