UK girl's name
Maleha
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful and attractive".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Maleha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Maleha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. 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.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Maleha. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Maleha ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 4 girls were registered as Maleha.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maleha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Maleha mean?
The name Maleha has its roots in the Arabic language and is believed to have originated in the Middle East during ancient times. The name is derived from the Arabic word "malih," which means "beautiful" or "graceful." This suggests that the name was initially bestowed upon girls who were considered exceptionally attractive or possessed a graceful demeanor.
In Islamic tradition, the name Maleha is mentioned in various historical texts and religious scriptures. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Quran, where it is mentioned as the name of a woman who was known for her piety and devotion to Allah. This reference dates back to the 7th century AD, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Maleha. One of the earliest recorded examples is Maleha bint Abi Sufyan (570-640 AD), who was a prominent figure in early Islamic history and the wife of the renowned companion of the Prophet, Abu Bakr. Another famous Maleha was Maleha al-Isfahani (770-825 AD), a renowned Arabic poet and literary scholar during the Abbasid Caliphate.
In the 11th century, Maleha al-Samarqandi (1020-1095 AD) was a renowned Islamic scholar and jurist from Samarkand, known for her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the study of Hadith (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). Additionally, Maleha bint al-Husayn (1054-1130 AD) was a celebrated poet and writer from Baghdad during the Seljuk Empire.
In more recent times, Maleha Lodhi (1932-2017) was a Pakistani academic, writer, and diplomat who served as the Ambassador of Pakistan to various countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. She was also a celebrated author and played a significant role in promoting Pakistani literature and culture on the international stage.
While the name Maleha has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world. Throughout history, the name has been associated with grace, beauty, and intellectual prowess, making it a respected and esteemed choice for parents seeking a name with rich cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Maleha over time
The chart below shows babies named Maleha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Maleha, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maleha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maleha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4925 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Maleha
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Maleha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Maleha in the UK right now?
In 2009, Maleha was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Maleha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 4 babies registered as Maleha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Maleha?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beautiful and attractive".
How many people are called Maleha in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Maleha across the 3 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.