Malaia
Meaning of Malaia
Malaia, pronounced mah-LIE-uh (/mɑ.ˈlaɪ.ə/), is a feminine given name that has gained modest traction in Anglo-American contexts. Its etymology is twofold: one derivation links to the Hawaiian Malia—a regional form of Maria, from Hebrew Maryam, meaning “beloved”—while another connects to Malay malaya, “free,” imparting connotations of affection and autonomy. U.S. Social Security data indicate Malaia first entered the top 1,000 in 1997, with annual occurrences ranging from single digits to forty; it peaked at rank 907 in 2021 and stabilized in the mid-920s by 2024. This analytic overview of its usage pattern highlights a stable niche appeal, offering parents a name that balances originality with linguistic familiarity.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as mah-LIE-uh (/mɑ.ˈlaɪ.ə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
