Malaya
Girl name · #775 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Malaya ranks #775 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 351 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #725, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,128 girls born in 2025 was named Malaya.
Babies named Malaya per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 48-year story
Malaya first appears in the Social Security records in 1977, when 11 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2014, when 449 girls were named Malaya — good for #637 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 Malaya against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malaya in class?
Malaya scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Malaya is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malaya is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Malayas were CA (37), TX (29), FL (26), GA (26), NC (17). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Malaya
Statistically, parents drawn to Malaya tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Soraya, Naya, Araya, Milana, and Sumaya.
SorayaNayaArayaMilanaSumayaAyaInayaChaya
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malaya | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 351 | #774 |
| 2024 | 341 | #813 |
| 2023 | 315 | #850 |
| 2022 | 416 | #708 |
| 2021 | 447 | #664 |
| 2020 | 429 | #667 |
| 2019 | 432 | #671 |
| 2018 | 380 | #736 |
| 2017 | 413 | #701 |
| 2016 | 442 | #667 |
| 2015 | 391 | #725 |
| 2014 | 449 | #637 |
| 2013 | 444 | #633 |
| 2012 | 350 | #782 |
| 2011 | 288 | #905 |
| 2010 | 318 | #844 |
| 2009 | 376 | #755 |
| 2008 | 263 | #1005 |
| 2007 | 261 | #1016 |
| 2006 | 276 | #946 |
| 2005 | 212 | #1115 |
| 2004 | 169 | #1271 |
| 2003 | 126 | #1534 |
| 2002 | 116 | #1594 |
| 2001 | 97 | #1819 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malaya a popular girl name?
Malaya ranked #775 among girls in 2025 with 351 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #725.
When was the name Malaya most popular?
Malaya peaked in 2014, when 449 American girls received the name (ranked #637 that year). Since 2014 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malaya?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,128 newborn American girls was named Malaya. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.