Meaning & origin
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
Maliyah through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 15,359
- 0 boys · 15,359 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 1,117 babies
- 2025
- 467
- #626 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −26%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 467 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 626 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,117 in 2009. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (51). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 8,935 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.
Maliyah’s family of names
Maliyah has a related form in Malia. In English usage, Maliyah was borrowed from the Hawaiian form Malia.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
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 Maliyah, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Makena
“one who is filled with happiness” · “man of abundance”
>99% girls
Maylea
“resembling a wildflower”
>99% girls
Mahina
“daughter of the moonlight”
>99% girls
Miliani
“of the gentle caress”
>99% girls
Mauli
“a black-haired man; a giver of life”
>99% girls
Makamae
“precious”
>99% girls
Mehana
“a warm and friendly woman”
>99% girls
Malu
“a peaceful woman”
3% boys · 97% girls