NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Malaiyah

A feminine name of American origin meaning "calm waters".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Malaiyah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Malaiyah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3533, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 6 births.

This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2021 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Malaiyah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Malaiyah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Malaiyah ranked #3533 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 6 girls were registered as Malaiyah.
  • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malaiyah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3533

2022

Births in 2022

6

Latest year

Peak year

2022

6 births

Estimated living

9

2026

Meaning

What does Malaiyah mean?

The name Malaiyah is believed to have its origins in the Arabic language, although its precise etymology is uncertain. It is thought to be a modern, feminine variation of the traditional Arabic name Malaya, which means "angel" or "heavenly."

Some linguistic experts suggest that Malaiyah may be derived from the Arabic root word "mala'ik," which refers to angels or celestial beings in Islamic tradition. This connection to heavenly themes aligns with the broader meaning associated with the name Malaya.

While the name Malaiyah is relatively new and has gained popularity in recent decades, it does not appear to have any notable historical references or mentions in ancient texts or religious scriptures. Its emergence as a distinct name is likely a modern phenomenon, reflecting the creative blending of traditional Arabic names with contemporary variations.

The earliest recorded examples of the name Malaiyah are difficult to pinpoint precisely, as it is a relatively recent addition to the onomastic landscape. However, it is worth mentioning a few individuals who have carried this name throughout history:

1. Malaiyah Jones (born 1992) is an American singer and songwriter known for her work in the R&B and neo-soul genres. 2. Malaiyah Farley (born 1998) is a British actress best known for her role in the television series "The Story of Tracy Beaker." 3. Malaiyah Rashid (born 2003) is a Canadian child actress who has appeared in various television shows and films. 4. Malaiyah Curry (born 2005) is an American child model and actress who has worked in commercials and television shows. 5. Malaiyah Arrington (born 2010) is a young American dancer and social media influencer known for her dance videos on various platforms.

It is worth noting that while these individuals may not be widely renowned historical figures, their inclusion serves to illustrate the growing popularity and use of the name Malaiyah across different cultures and regions in more recent times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Malaiyah over time

The chart below shows babies named Malaiyah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2021 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Malaiyah, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Malaiyah
02356202120212022

Decades

Malaiyah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malaiyah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4557 9 2

Related

Names similar to Malaiyah

FAQ

Malaiyah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Malaiyah in the UK right now?

In 2022, Malaiyah was ranked #3533 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Malaiyah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 6 babies registered as Malaiyah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Malaiyah?

A feminine name of American origin meaning "calm waters".

How many people are called Malaiyah in the UK?

A total of 9 babies have been registered as Malaiyah across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.