Malia
MAH-lee-uh
Malia is the Hawaiian form of Mary, making it part of one of the oldest and most widespread name families in the world.
In Hawaiian phonology, where many English consonants are absent, Maria naturally becomes Malia - a transformation that gives the name its distinctive Pacific character.
The name gained enormous visibility when Malia Obama, daughter of President Barack Obama, entered public life in 2008. The presidential connection coincided with peak usage: Malia reached No. 192 in 2009, its highest rank to date.
What the name Malia means
Since that peak, the name has gradually receded. In 2024, Malia ranked No. 326 with 946 births, down from a consistent top-270 position throughout the late 2010s. The decline has been gentle rather than steep.
Beyond its Hawaiian roots, Malia also functions as a name in several African languages, adding to its cross-cultural appeal. The 3-syllable structure (MAH-lee-ah) is intuitive across most language backgrounds.
At its core, Malia offers something rare: a name that feels both modern and deeply traditional. It connects to the world’s most enduring name lineage while sounding nothing like the European forms most English speakers know.
For parents seeking a name with genuine cultural roots and a warm, open sound, Malia delivers without pretension. Its slide down the charts actually works in its favor - it is now less likely to share a classroom with multiples.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Malia
Malia - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity