Malia
Malia was the 349th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 872 babies. Its best year was 2009, when it ranked 192nd with 1,700 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 34 places. More babies were named Malia in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning Hawaiian form of Mary · Hawaiian, Hebrew
Say it muh-LEE-uh /məˈliə/
- Rank in 2025
- #349 girls, down 90 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 872girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20091,700 babies
- Total since 1880
- 31,606babies recorded
What does the name Malia mean?
Malia is the Hawaiian form of Mary, adapted to Hawaiian sounds (Hawaiian has no r). Mary goes back to Hebrew Miryam, whose meaning DMNES describes as uncertain. Wiktionary also mentions a Hawaiian word mālia, "calm", as a source in some cases; Andrews' Hawaiian dictionary (1922) lists malia only as an adverb meaning "perhaps", so that sense needs checking. Malia Obama made the name widely known.
מִרְיָם (Biblical Hebrew, “Miriam (meaning uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Probable. As a form of Mary it is clear; the 'calm' sense is not confirmed by the Hawaiian dictionary consulted.
Related names: Mary, Maria, Malea, Maliyah.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Malia', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Mary', DMNES, Durham University
- Lorrin Andrews, A Dictionary of the Hawaiian Language, rev. H. H. Parker (1922), s.v. 'Malia', Board of Commissioners of Public Archives, Honolulu (public domain; Internet Archive scan)
Malia popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #349 | 872 |
| 2020 | #259 | 1,172 |
| 2010 | #301 | 1,075 |
| 2000 | #499 | 541 |
| 1990 | #1,102 | 159 |
| 1980 | #992 | 149 |
| 1970 | #1,553 | 63 |
| 1960 | #2,040 | 32 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Malia, counting every spelling?
Malia is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #330 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #349 for Malia on its own. Together these spellings went to 994 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malia | 872 | #349 | 5,361 |
| Maliah | 122 | #1,688 | 866 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Malia?
872 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Malia (0.24 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Malia born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 10 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Malia.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Malia?
About 31,100 people born in the US named Malia are alive today, with a median age of 15; half are between 8 and 23. That makes Malia mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Malia by state
How common Malia was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (11.1×), Nevada (2.0×), New Mexico (2.0×), Maryland (1.8×), Idaho (1.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Hampshire, South Dakota, Montana.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Malia: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Malia, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Malia · Sibling names for Malia
Questions about the name Malia
What does Malia mean?
Malia means “Hawaiian form of Mary” (Hawaiian, Hebrew origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Malia?
Malia was the 349th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 872 babies. Its best year was 2009, when it ranked 192nd with 1,700 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 34 places. More babies were named Malia in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Malia a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Malia in the US.
Where is Malia most popular?
In 2021–2025, Malia was most common in Hawaii (7.33 per 1,000 girls), followed by Delaware and Nevada.