Malia
Girl name · #350 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Malia? In official American birth records, Malia has been tracked continuously since 1919, giving it 106 years of documented American history.
Malia is currently the #350 girl name in the United States — 872 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #315, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,064 girls born in 2025 was named Malia.
The 106-year story
Malia first appears in the Social Security records in 1919, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 1,700 girls were named Malia — good for #192 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.
Babies named Malia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Malia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malia is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Malia is most common in HI (8.4 per 1,000), NV (1.5 per 1,000), MD (1.1 per 1,000), VA (0.9 per 1,000), WA (0.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Malia is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Malia
Statistically, parents drawn to Malia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Talia, Kalia, Analia, Alia, and Emelia.
TaliaKaliaAnaliaAliaEmeliaNataliaMaiaAmalia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 872 | #349 |
| 2024 | 948 | #328 |
| 2023 | 1,146 | #273 |
| 2022 | 1,191 | #265 |
| 2021 | 1,204 | #256 |
| 2020 | 1,172 | #259 |
| 2019 | 1,264 | #262 |
| 2018 | 1,280 | #255 |
| 2017 | 1,429 | #215 |
| 2016 | 1,237 | #258 |
| 2015 | 1,031 | #315 |
| 2014 | 955 | #348 |
| 2013 | 959 | #336 |
| 2012 | 899 | #353 |
| 2011 | 1,011 | #313 |
| 2010 | 1,075 | #301 |
| 2009 | 1,700 | #192 |
| 2008 | 968 | #343 |
| 2007 | 817 | #399 |
| 2006 | 784 | #406 |
| 2005 | 741 | #418 |
| 2004 | 681 | #449 |
| 2003 | 706 | #425 |
| 2002 | 682 | #428 |
| 2001 | 585 | #476 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malia?
In official American birth records, the name Malia first appeared in 1919 (over 106 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 106 years.
Is Malia a popular girl name?
Malia ranked #350 among girls in 2025 with 872 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #315.
When was the name Malia most popular?
Malia peaked in 2009, when 1,700 American girls received the name (ranked #192 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,064 newborn American girls was named Malia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.