Malaiyah
A feminine name of American origin meaning "calm waters".
Name Census estimates that about 406 living Americans carry the first name Malaiyah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Malaiyah today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malaiyah births was 2022 (48 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malaiyah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
406
~ 1 in 844,223 Americans
Peak year
2022
48 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,060
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Malaiyah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malaiyah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 203 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malaiyah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Malaiyah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Malaiyahs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Texas, Florida, California recorded the most babies named Malaiyah, while Ohio, California, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Malaiyah
The name Malaiyah is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, although its precise etymology is uncertain. It is thought to be a modern, feminine variation of the traditional Arabic name Malaya, which means "angel" or "heavenly."
Some linguistic experts suggest that Malaiyah may be derived from the Arabic root word "mala'ik," which refers to angels or celestial beings in Islamic tradition. This connection to heavenly themes aligns with the broader meaning associated with the name Malaya.
While the name Malaiyah is relatively new and has gained popularity in recent decades, it does not appear to have any notable historical references or mentions in ancient texts or religious scriptures. Its emergence as a distinct name is likely a modern phenomenon, reflecting the creative blending of traditional Arabic names with contemporary variations.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Malaiyah are difficult to pinpoint precisely, as it is a relatively recent addition to the onomastic landscape. However, it is worth mentioning a few individuals who have carried this name throughout history:
1. Malaiyah Jones (born 1992) is an American singer and songwriter known for her work in the R&B and neo-soul genres.
2. Malaiyah Farley (born 1998) is a British actress best known for her role in the television series "The Story of Tracy Beaker."
3. Malaiyah Rashid (born 2003) is a Canadian child actress who has appeared in various television shows and films.
4. Malaiyah Curry (born 2005) is an American child model and actress who has worked in commercials and television shows.
5. Malaiyah Arrington (born 2010) is a young American dancer and social media influencer known for her dance videos on various platforms.
It is worth noting that while these individuals may not be widely renowned historical figures, their inclusion serves to illustrate the growing popularity and use of the name Malaiyah across different cultures and regions in more recent times.
People
Malaiyah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malaiyah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Malaiyah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malaiyah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 406 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malaiyah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 844,223 US residents.
Is Malaiyah a common name?
We classify Malaiyah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 409 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malaiyah most popular?
The single biggest year for Malaiyah was 2022, when 48 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malaiyah is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malaiyah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malaiyah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.