Declining since 2014, #1,684 for girls today.
Popularity of Maliah since 1991
Babies named Maliah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 174 |
| 2000s | 1,210 |
| 2010s | 2,921 |
| 2020s | 1,089 |
Meaning & origin
Maliah is a modern American name that first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1991. It reached its peak popularity in 2013, when it ranked around 1,168th, but by 2025 it had fallen to rank 1,684th. Approximately 1 in 13,174 newborns received the name in 2025. The name has been most well received in Kentucky, Colorado, and Missouri, according to the top states where it has been most popular. Its trajectory has been falling since 2014, reflecting a decline in the modern coinage style. While the exact derivation is uncertain, Maliah fits a pattern of feminine names ending in '-iah' or '-ia' that gained traction in the 1990s and 2000s. It remains a distinctive choice that is still used sparingly across the United States.
Maliah is a modern coinage that emerged in the late 20th century, likely as a variant of Maliyah or a combination of popular name elements. The name shares phonetic similarities with both Maria and Leah, and may have been influenced by the widespread use of names ending in '-iah' in the 1990s. Its first recorded use in U.S. data is 1991, and it saw a rise in popularity through the 2000s and early 2010s.
Where Maliah 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.
“Maliah” around the world
Where Maliah lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mali, Leah, Mia
Sibling names for Maliah
Names that share Maliah's style, for a brother or sister.
