Malia Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Malia is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Malia?
Malia is spelled M-A-L-I-A. The name has 5 letters.
Malia at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Malia is often understood as a variant of the name Maria, which derives from the Hebrew name Miryam, possibly meaning “sea of bitterness” or…
- Origin
- Malia may derive from Maria and is commonly associated with various cultures, including Hawaiian and Greek, where it has distinct local usages.
- Pronunciation
- MAH-lee-ah · 3 syllables
Malia Popularity in 2025
Rank#349
Recorded Births872
- Girls usage fell 21 places to #349 and recorded 76 fewer 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 Malia Mean?
Malia is often understood as a variant of the name Maria, which derives from the Hebrew name Miryam, possibly meaning “sea of bitterness” or “rebelliousness.”
Origin: Malia may derive from Maria and is commonly associated with various cultures, including Hawaiian and Greek, where it has distinct local usages.
How Do You Pronounce Malia?
PronunciationMAH-lee-ah
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Malia?
- History
- The name Malia has been recorded in multiple contexts, including as a Hawaiian given name and as a variant of Maria in European sources.
Malia 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 | 872 | #349 |
| 2024 | Girls | 948 | #328 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,146 | #273 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,191 | #265 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,204 | #256 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,172 | #259 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,264 | #262 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,280 | #255 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,429 | #215 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,237 | #258 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,031 | #315 |
| 2014 | Girls | 955 | #348 |
| 2013 | Girls | 959 | #336 |
| 2012 | Girls | 899 | #353 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,011 | #313 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,075 | #301 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,700 | #192 |
| 2008 | Girls | 968 | #343 |
| 2007 | Girls | 817 | #399 |
| 2006 | Girls | 784 | #406 |
| 2005 | Girls | 741 | #418 |
| 2004 | Girls | 681 | #449 |
| 2003 | Girls | 706 | #425 |
| 2002 | Girls | 682 | #428 |
When Was Malia 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.
2009 · Girls
1,700 recorded births
National rank #192
2017 · Girls
1,429 recorded births
National rank #215
2018 · Girls
1,280 recorded births
National rank #255
2019 · Girls
1,264 recorded births
National rank #262
Where Malia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| HI | #19 | 18 |
| NM | #159 | 9 |
| MT | #168 | 6 |
| NV | #178 | 14 |
| RI | #180 | 5 |
| MD | #242 | 21 |
| CA | #263 | 126 |
| VA | #263 | 31 |