Malia
- Meaning
- Hawaiian form of Mary; meaning uncertain
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What does Malia mean?
Malia means “Hawaiian form of Mary; meaning uncertain”.
Malia is a Hawaiian form of Mary or Maria. The older name’s ultimate meaning is uncertain, with explanations such as beloved or bitter representing different theories. It is more accurate to identify the Mary connection than to present one of those meanings as settled for Malia.
Malia Obama is a familiar bearer. Lia is a possible personal nickname, while Maria offers a related form from other language traditions. A family honoring a Mary may choose Malia to preserve the connection with a different sound. Its Hawaiian form should be distinguished from a claim that it is an unrelated Hawaiian word with a separate literal meaning.
Nicknames & variations
Explore short forms, spellings, and related names.
Nicknames for Malia
Short forms for everyday use.
Variations & related forms
Related forms and spellings recorded for this name.
How popular is Malia?
United States · 2025Explore how often Malia is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US girls rank
- #349 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Girls named Malia
- 872 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 8.0% Fewer than 2024
Malia over time
United States · Girls
Recorded births
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Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights girls, the most common recorded usage in 2025.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | #349 | 872 |
| 2024 | Girls | #328 | 948 |
| 2023 | Girls | #274 | 1,146 |
| 2022 | Girls | #265 | 1,191 |
| 2021 | Girls | #256 | 1,204 |
| 2020 | Girls | #259 | 1,172 |
| 2019 | Girls | #262 | 1,264 |
| 2018 | Girls | #255 | 1,280 |
| 2017 | Girls | #216 | 1,429 |
| 2016 | Girls | #259 | 1,237 |
| 2015 | Girls | #315 | 1,031 |
| 2014 | Girls | #348 | 955 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Malia
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
Maria
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Meaning uncertain; a form of Mary
Listed as a related name to Malia.
Mary
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Meaning uncertain; from the Miriam name family
Listed as a related name to Malia.
Lia
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Meaning depends on the name family
Listed as a related name to Malia.
Isabella
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Pledged to God
Shares an origin with Malia.
Eliana
Mostly girls- Meaning
- My God has answered; sun
Shares an origin with Malia.
Ava
Mostly girls- Meaning
- Life; bird; water, island
Shares an origin with Malia.
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