Malia
How to say it: muh-LEE-uh · /məˈliə/
Hawaiian form of Mary/Maria; from Hebrew Miriam, meaning 'beloved' or 'wished-for child'.
Malia was the 233rd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 872 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are down about 31% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #297 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 | #233 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 872 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,178 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −31% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #297 |
| In France, 2025 | #100 among girls’ names, 280 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Malia reached its peak in the 2020s after a period of climbing. The coming stretch points toward a small retreat.
What goes with it
Light and lilting, Malia feels gentle and melodic. Lia offers a short form with the same grace.
Middle names that flow with Malia →
Nicknames
- Mali
- Lia
Honouring a Malia in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Malia is about 1 in 91.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Hebrew.
In France: #100 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Malia
- Malia Metella (born 1982)French swimmer
- Malia Baker (born 2006)Canadian actress
- Malia Pyles (born 2000)American actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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