Malika
Girl name · #2702 in 2025 · Uniqueness 80/100
Malika ranks #2702 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 64 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3092, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,125 girls born in 2025 was named Malika.
Babies named Malika per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 59-year story
Malika first appears in the Social Security records in 1966, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1996, when 183 girls were named Malika — good for #1020 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 Malika against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malika in class?
Malika scores 80 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Malika will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Malika is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malika is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Malikas were NY (8), CA (6), PA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Malika
Statistically, parents drawn to Malika tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Radhika, Malaika, Zulema, Mirella, and Maira.
RadhikaMalaikaZulemaMirellaMairaErikaMeccaMika
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malika | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | #2691 |
| 2024 | 59 | #2819 |
| 2023 | 88 | #2156 |
| 2022 | 82 | #2277 |
| 2021 | 78 | #2327 |
| 2020 | 88 | #2078 |
| 2019 | 89 | #2109 |
| 2018 | 80 | #2275 |
| 2017 | 84 | #2236 |
| 2016 | 86 | #2221 |
| 2015 | 54 | #3092 |
| 2014 | 80 | #2304 |
| 2013 | 61 | #2804 |
| 2012 | 81 | #2315 |
| 2011 | 62 | #2796 |
| 2010 | 52 | #3159 |
| 2009 | 38 | #4013 |
| 2008 | 58 | #2995 |
| 2007 | 65 | #2787 |
| 2006 | 57 | #2978 |
| 2005 | 59 | #2787 |
| 2004 | 71 | #2396 |
| 2003 | 94 | #1925 |
| 2002 | 84 | #2046 |
| 2001 | 107 | #1686 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malika a popular girl name?
Malika ranked #2702 among girls in 2025 with 64 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3092.
When was the name Malika most popular?
Malika peaked in 1996, when 183 American girls received the name (ranked #1020 that year). Since 1996 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malika?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,125 newborn American girls was named Malika. It scores 80/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.