Malia
Malia is a girls' name of Hawaiian origin meaning “calm, peaceful waters.” It ranked #242 in the United States in 2025. Malia is the Hawaiian form of Mary, meaning 'calm waters' or 'peaceful.
how do you pronounce Malia?
mah-LEE-ah
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Malia mean?
The name Malia means “calm, peaceful waters.” It comes from the Hawaiian language tradition.
Malia is the Hawaiian form of Mary, meaning 'calm waters' or 'peaceful.' It gained national prominence when Barack and Michelle Obama named their daughter Malia. The name embodies the Hawaiian concept of peaceful coexistence with the ocean, central to island life.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #242 |
| 2023 | #250 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Malia?
- Malia Obama (daughter of President Barack Obama)
- Malia Jones (Hawaiian surfer and model)
what names are similar to Malia?
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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