Malaya
How to say it: muh-LAY-uh · /məˈleɪə/
From Filipino/Tagalog 'malaya' meaning 'free' or 'freedom'. A meaningful name in Philippine culture.
Malaya was the 508th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 351 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to slip to #571 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #508 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 351 |
| Share of births | 1 in 5,775 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −4% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #571 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Emerging only in recent decades, Malaya reached its peak in the 2020s. It remains at that height though a small fall is on the horizon.
What goes with it
Flowing across three soft syllables, it sounds smooth and open. Samara pairs beautifully in tone.
Nicknames
- Maya
- Mala
Honouring a Malaya in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Malaya is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hindi.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Keep exploring
About as popular as Malaya
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