Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Maliah isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1991. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Maliah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,394
- 0 boys · 5,394 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 356 babies
- 2025
- 122
- #1,688 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −37%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 122 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,688 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 36.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 356 in 2009. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (15). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,429 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.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
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 Maliah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Maliyah
Maliyah is a feminine given name, probably from Hawaiian.
>99% girls
Aaliah
>99% girls
Analia
Analia is a feminine given name from Spanish.
>99% girls
Makayla
“who is like God?”
>99% girls
Makeyla
>99% girls
Makenna
“daughter of the handsome man” · “the son of Kenna; to ascend”
>99% girls
Makenzie
Makenzie is a variant of Mackenzie. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
>99% girls
Alasia
>99% girls