Malijah first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Malijah has been for the last 28 years (from 1994 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Malijah

A Hebrew feminine name meaning "messenger from God".

Popularity of Malijah by gender

Based on the last 28 years of data, Malijah is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 64% of people named Malijah being female.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Malijah.

It's also interesting to see that despite Malijah being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 2021 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Malijah.

Year Male Count Female Count
2021 5 0
2017 0 5
2015 9 0
2014 0 7
2013 6 0
2012 0 6
2011 5 5
2010 0 6
2009 0 7
2008 0 5
2007 9 5
2006 5 7
2005 6 7
2004 0 5
2003 0 6
2002 5 7
2001 5 6
1998 0 5
1996 0 5
1994 0 5

The history of the first name Malijah

The name Malijah is a Hebrew name that can be traced back to ancient times. It is derived from the combination of two Hebrew words: "mal'akh" meaning "angel" and "Yah" which is a shortened form of the Hebrew name for God, "Yahweh."

In its earliest form, the name was likely spelled "Maliyahu" or "Maliyah." It first appeared in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament, where it was mentioned as the name of a Levite priest during the time of King David.

Historical records indicate that the name Malijah was particularly popular among Jewish communities in the Middle East and North Africa during the medieval period. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Malijah ben Avraham, a renowned Jewish scholar who lived in Egypt in the 12th century.

As the Jewish diaspora spread across Europe and the Americas, the name Malijah continued to be used, albeit with variations in spelling and pronunciation. Notable figures throughout history who bore this name include Malijah Levi, a 16th-century Italian rabbi and author, and Malijah Hacohen, a 17th-century Dutch philosopher and mathematician.

In more recent times, the name Malijah has gained popularity among people of diverse cultural backgrounds, particularly in English-speaking countries. One notable bearer of this name was Malijah Malik, an American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the early 2000s.

Another notable figure was Malijah Simmonds, a British actor and playwright who gained recognition for his work in the late 20th century. Additionally, Malijah Jones, an American singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the early 2010s, has helped to further popularize the name.

While the name Malijah has evolved and been adopted by various cultures over time, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Hebrew language and its religious significance. The name continues to hold a special meaning for many, symbolizing the presence of divine messengers or angels.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Malijah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Malijah, please contact us.

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"Malijah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on May 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/malijah-meaning-and-history/.

"Malijah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/malijah-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 May, 2025

Malijah first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/malijah-meaning-and-history/.

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