Declining since 2018, #349 for girls today.
Popularity of Malia since 1919
Babies named Malia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 323 |
| 1960s | 449 |
| 1970s | 1,027 |
| 1980s | 1,442 |
| 1990s | 2,477 |
| 2000s | 8,205 |
| 2010s | 11,140 |
| 2020s | 6,533 |
Meaning & origin
Malia is a Hawaiian-inflected name that entered the U.S. mainstream largely through cultural visibility. First recorded in U.S. data in 1919, the name saw a dramatic rise in the 2000s, peaking at rank 105 in 2009. Since 2018, its popularity has been falling, though it remains well known. In 2025, it ranked 349th, with approximately 1 in 1,843 girls receiving the name. Malia is most popular in Hawaii, Montana, and Rhode Island, reflecting both its Hawaiian roots and a broader appeal in states with a taste for melodic, vowel-ending names. The name's trajectory mirrors the influence of a single prominent family, but its long arc from early 20th-century obscurity to peak in the Obama years and subsequent decline suggests a classic modern naming pattern: a surge followed by a gentle return to familiarity.
Malia is a Hawaiian form of Maria, itself derived from the Hebrew name Maryam. Introduced to Hawaii by Christian missionaries, it became a popular name among native Hawaiians. In the United States, the name gained modern prominence through Malia Obama, daughter of President Barack Obama, boosting its usage in the 2000s and 2010s.
Where Malia is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Malia” around the world
Where Malia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
290
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
New Zealand
#96
in 2025
Quebec
20
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mali, Lea
Sibling names for Malia
Names that share Malia's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Keira, Leilani, Siena, Alani, Nalani, Alayah, Alysia, Anela, Aniah, Azaria, Cierra, Endia, Jalisa, Jania, Kalani, Kalia, Kaliyah, Kaylani, Keilani, Lani, Makena, Malani, Nyasia, Shaniya, Taleah, Tanisha, Alasia, Amaria, Breona, Chenoa, Elani, Jalia, Kahlia, Kailah, Kailany, Kalea, Kalei, Kamia, Keiara, Kelani, Kiani, Kiarah, Kiari, Lailani, Leilany, Leylani, Luana, Makia, Makiah, Makiya, Marisha, Markia, Meilani, Nahomi, Nailea, Nariah, Porsha, Shaniah, Talisa, Talisha, Tyasia, Zaniah, Zendaya, Abria, Aithana, Alahia, Alania, Aloni, Anaia, Analea, Anasia, Anesia, Atiana, Aulani, Calani, Caleah, Caliah, Camia, Chaniya, Dalani, Damaria, Dannia, Dashia, Daysia, Demaria, Ehlani, Halia, Ilani, Jameria, Janyiah, Jenai, Jenea, Kailea, Kaleya, Kaliana, Kamarie, Kamika, Kania, Kaniah, Karia, Kariah, Kawana, Keala, Keiona, Kelia, Keniya, Kennia, Kesia, Keyani, Khalea, Khaleah, Kiahna, Kiele, Klani, Kylani, Lalani, Lanai, Lanasia, Laylanie, Leasia, Leesha, Lei, Leiana, Leiani, Leilana, Leiloni, Lelani, Liani, Mailee, Makaya, Makennah, Makeyla, Malana, Malasia, Malayia, Maleny, Malie, Malissia, Mariea, Marleah, Mele, Meliyah, Mikiah, Miliani, Moana, Mone, Myleah, Nailani, Nalaya, Nalia, Nasia, Naylea, Nikeya, Nikiya, Ramiah, Saliyah, Saria, Shaleen, Shalia, Shamaria, Talayah, Talaysia, Talea, Taleigha, Talesha, Talissa, Taniah, Tanyla, Tapanga, Tenika, Teria, Terika, Tesia, Tiasia, Timia, Tylia, Tynia, Zalia, Zamiah, Zania, Zarriah, Zykeria, Adasia, Ahlani, Alanii, Alanny, Alesana, Alexsia, Aliani, Ameriah, Amonie, Analeya, Analysia, Anaysia, Annaliah, Anniya, Arieonna, Ayriana, Braniya, Brenya, Calayah, Caliana, Caliya, Camaria, Chania, Dalaysia, Daleah, Dalexa, Dazia, Daziah, Deliyah, Demiah, Dynasia, Eilany, Elienai, Eloni, Eniya, Halea, Jadia, Jahnia, Jalana, Jalea, Jamaiya, Janaia, Janaria, Janesha, Jatoria, Jaylia, Kahlea, Kaiana, Kailana, Kaileia, Kailoni, Kaina, Kalana, Kaleiah, Kalicia, Kamaile, Kamea, Kataleyah, Kateria, Kehlany, Keiasia, Kelaiah, Keliyah, Keniah, Keonia, Kianni, Kimala, Kylia, Kyliah, Lahela, Laiana, Lailany, Lailoni, Laniah, Lanyia, Lanyiah, Lariya, Lataya, Layliana, Leasha, Lehlani, Lehua, Leilanni, Leilanny, Leiliana, Lenea, Letia, Lyniah, Makila, Makita, Malahni, Malania, Maleaha, Maleea, Maleni, Maniah, Markiya, Maziyah, Meleana, Mialani, Mylin, Naelani, Nahlia, Naleah, Naliah, Nanea, Naviah, Neilani, Nelani, Nohea, Olina, Sakiya, Saleah, Samariah, Sameria, Seairra, Tabria, Talani, Taleia, Taliana, Tanayah, Tazia, Teasia, Terea, Tiannah, Timiyah, Tylasia, Tylea, Tymia, Tynasia, Yailyn, Yalani, Zakhia, Zyniah, Zyriah, Adiah, Allani, Dehlani, Diasia, Jalayia, Kalanie, Katoria, Keliah, Kenasia, Kuuipo, Lakea, Manelyk, Mekiah, Miliyah, Montia, Naliya, Salia, Samarie, Toshua, Ailanie, Ailanni, Alaisa, Alayziah, Aliea, Alisi, Amarria, Amyria, Anahli, Analei, Andrya, Anecia, Aniesha, Arriona, Aylanni, Bitania, Briena, Cabria, Cahlani, Cailani, Caleyah, Camani, Cariah, Carlia, Ceasia, Chalisa, Charae, Chenae, Cynia, Daelani, Dakia, Dazaria, Daziya, Deleah, Eilani, Ellani, Falana, Halaina, Halani, Halei, Hiilani, Hokulani, Iwalani, Jaasia, Jacoria, Jahleah, Jalaia, Jaleea, Jaleeah, Jalexus, Jalisia, Janaysha, Jatia, Johnasia, Jolani, Joleah, Joniah, Julicia, Kaianna, Kaiyana, Kalahni, Kalaia, Kalasia, Kaleeah, Kaleeya, Kaleeyah, Kameria, Kanyia, Katanya, Kaveah, Kearia, Kemaria, Kenijah, Kenniyah, Kenyia, Keomi, Khailani, Kimori, Krissia, Laasia, Laiani, Lailanie, Laneah, Leilahni, Leilene, Leniya, Lilyauna, Mahaila, Mahia, Makela, Malanni, Malashia, Maleeah, Maleiah, Maleiyah, Malita, Markeia, Marlaya, Marsai, Martavia, Masina, Melanni, Meleni, Mikaia, Mikeya, Milliani, Mirely, Monasia, Monifah, Moorea, Nalany, Nalea, Naleia, Nashia, Ramiyah, Reniya, Roselani, Sakia, Salisa, Saraia, Sashia, Shaasia, Shaliah, Shalika, Shawnia, Shikira, Sindia, Sophea, Talayia, Taleigh, Talishia, Tallia, Tanashia, Tanazia, Taneia, Tashanti, Tasmia, Tavaria, Tearia, Tenea, Teriyah, Thiara, Timiya, Tonga, Tyshia, Xariyah, Yeilani, Zarie
Brothers: Kai, Ethan, Liam, Noah, Makoa, Davion, Devion, Jamarion, Jarius, Koa, Derrion, Jacorey, Kaleo, Kekoa, Makari, Malaki, Masiah, Zaylen, Amarius, Dameion, Demarious, Dshawn, Ikaika, Josiyah, Josyah, Jquan, Jusiah, Kaipo, Kanoa, Kawika, Keoki, Keola, Kimo, Kona, Matai, Million, Terrian, Treshon, Akoni, Daivion, Damont, Jamareon, Jontavius, Kaeo, Kaikoa, Kaimani, Kaivon, Kamilo, Keahi, Kentrel, Kyreese, Maciah, Malosi, Markez, Martavion, Martavis, Osiah, Shamarion, Treavon, Tryton, Jailan, Jaishon, Aleki, Alikai, Cortavius, Dariyon, Davionte, Demere, Demerius, Domonik, Iosefa, Jabarie, Jakaree, Jamarea, Janthony, Jaymari, Joshia, Jovoni, Kawai, Kelii, Lopaka, Makail, Myshawn, Sosaia, Toa, Tyliek
Names like Malia
Names whose popularity has moved with Malia's over the last 50 years.
