Malaya Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Malaya is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Malaya?
Malaya is spelled M-A-L-A-Y-A. The name has 6 letters.
Malaya at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Malaya may derive from a Sanskrit word meaning “hill” or “mountain.”
- Origin
- Malaya is commonly associated with the Malay Archipelago and the historical region known as Malaya in Southeast Asia.
- Pronunciation
- mah-LIE-ah · 3 syllables
Malaya Popularity in 2025
Rank#774
Recorded Births351
- Girls usage rose 39 places to #774 and recorded 10 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Malaya Mean?
Malaya may derive from a Sanskrit word meaning “hill” or “mountain.”
Origin: Malaya is commonly associated with the Malay Archipelago and the historical region known as Malaya in Southeast Asia.
How Do You Pronounce Malaya?
Pronunciationmah-LIE-ah
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Malaya?
- History
- Historical records document Malaya as a geographic term in Southeast Asia; evidence of its use as a personal name is less established.
Malaya Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 351 | #774 |
| 2024 | Girls | 341 | #813 |
| 2023 | Girls | 315 | #850 |
| 2022 | Girls | 416 | #708 |
| 2021 | Girls | 447 | #664 |
| 2020 | Girls | 429 | #667 |
| 2019 | Girls | 432 | #671 |
| 2018 | Girls | 380 | #736 |
| 2017 | Girls | 413 | #701 |
| 2016 | Girls | 442 | #667 |
| 2015 | Girls | 391 | #725 |
| 2014 | Girls | 449 | #637 |
| 2013 | Girls | 444 | #633 |
| 2012 | Girls | 350 | #782 |
| 2011 | Girls | 288 | #905 |
| 2010 | Girls | 318 | #844 |
| 2009 | Girls | 376 | #755 |
| 2008 | Girls | 263 | #1,005 |
| 2007 | Girls | 261 | #1,016 |
| 2006 | Girls | 276 | #946 |
| 2005 | Girls | 212 | #1,115 |
| 2004 | Girls | 169 | #1,271 |
| 2003 | Girls | 126 | #1,534 |
| 2002 | Girls | 116 | #1,594 |
When Was Malaya Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2014 · Girls
449 recorded births
National rank #637
2021 · Girls
447 recorded births
National rank #664
2013 · Girls
444 recorded births
National rank #633
2016 · Girls
442 recorded births
National rank #667
Where Malaya Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NM | #296 | 5 |
| WV | #308 | 5 |
| GA | #431 | 26 |
| MS | #441 | 6 |
| KY | #443 | 9 |
| SC | #467 | 10 |
| VA | #520 | 15 |
| TN | #568 | 13 |