Given name
Malayah
“an independent woman; one who is free”
Malayah is a variant of Malaya. One Spanish interpretation is “an independent woman; one who is free.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Malayah is a variant of Malaya. One Spanish interpretation is “an independent woman; one who is free.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Malayah is a variant of Malaya. An origin associated with Malaya is Spanish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1994. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Malayah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,367
- 0 boys · 4,367 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 333 babies
- 2025
- 223
- #1,084 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 223 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,084 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (22). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,993 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.
Malayah’s family of names
Malayah has a related form in Malaya.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Malayah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alayah
Alayah is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Alaya
Alaya is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Anaya
“one who looks up to God”
>99% girls
Malani
>99% girls
Amaya
“of the night rain”
>99% girls
Mahdiya
>99% girls
Madiha
“one who is praiseworthy”
>99% girls
Ariyah
Ariyah is a feminine given name.
>99% girls