Malaia
Girl name · #4834 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Malaia? In official American birth records, Malaia has been tracked continuously since 1997, giving it 28 years of documented American history.
Malaia ranks #4834 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 28 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #10148, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 64,286 girls born in 2025 was named Malaia.
Babies named Malaia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 28-year story
Malaia first appears in the Social Security records in 1997, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 40 girls were named Malaia — good for #3735 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malaia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malaia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malaia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Malaia will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Malaia is most common
State-level data for Malaia is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Malaia
Statistically, parents drawn to Malaia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Raia, Maleia, Caia, Munira, and Alayia.
RaiaMaleiaCaiaMuniraAlayiaMuntahaZarayaMalaiya
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malaia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | #4758 |
| 2024 | 26 | #5021 |
| 2023 | 34 | #4191 |
| 2022 | 24 | #5309 |
| 2021 | 40 | #3735 |
| 2020 | 35 | #4005 |
| 2019 | 30 | #4546 |
| 2018 | 17 | #6792 |
| 2017 | 8 | #11615 |
| 2016 | 7 | #12876 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10148 |
| 2014 | 14 | #8053 |
| 2013 | 6 | #14582 |
| 2012 | 14 | #8208 |
| 2011 | 24 | #5543 |
| 2010 | 17 | #7217 |
| 2009 | 16 | #7679 |
| 2008 | 13 | #8965 |
| 2007 | 24 | #5709 |
| 2006 | 18 | #6840 |
| 2004 | 7 | #12761 |
| 2003 | 5 | #15784 |
| 1997 | 5 | #13724 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malaia?
In official American birth records, the name Malaia first appeared in 1997 (over 28 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 28 years.
Is Malaia a popular girl name?
Malaia ranked #4834 among girls in 2025 with 28 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #10148.
When was the name Malaia most popular?
Malaia peaked in 2021, when 40 American girls received the name (ranked #3735 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malaia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 64,286 newborn American girls was named Malaia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.