UK girl's name
Malia
Of Hawaiian origin meaning "calm" or "shaded by the calm".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Malia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Malia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #676, with 56 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 94 births.
This profile covers 689 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 747 living people in the UK are called Malia. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Malia ranked #676 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 56 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 94 girls were registered as Malia.
- • Malia ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #331 in 2003.
- • About 747 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#676
2024
Births in 2024
56
Latest year
Peak year
2023
94 births
Estimated living
747
2026
Meaning
What does Malia mean?
The name Malia is of Hawaiian origin, derived from the Hawaiian word "malia," meaning "calm" or "peaceful." It is a name that has been used in the Hawaiian culture for centuries, reflecting the serene beauty and tranquility of the islands.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malia can be found in ancient Hawaiian chants and stories, where it was often used to describe the gentle breeze or the calm ocean waters. The name gained popularity among Hawaiian families, who saw it as a fitting name for their daughters, embodying the essence of the island's peaceful spirit.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Malia. One such figure was Malia Kaʻahumanu (1768-1832), a powerful Hawaiian queen and regent who played a pivotal role in the unification of the Hawaiian Islands during the early 19th century. Her influence and leadership were instrumental in shaping the course of Hawaiian history.
Another notable Malia was Malia Pele (1843-1905), a Hawaiian princess and chieftess who was known for her beauty and grace. She was highly respected within the Hawaiian community and served as a prominent figure in the preservation of Hawaiian culture and traditions.
In more recent times, Malia Obama (born 1998), the eldest daughter of former US President Barack Obama, has brought renewed attention to the name Malia. Her presence on the national and international stage has contributed to the growing popularity of the name across various cultures.
Beyond Hawaii, the name Malia has also found its way into other cultures and languages. In Swahili, for example, the name "Malia" means "wealthy" or "prosperous," reflecting a different cultural interpretation of the name's meaning.
Regardless of its cultural origins, the name Malia continues to captivate with its gentle and soothing connotations, serving as a reminder of the beauty and serenity found in nature and the human spirit.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Malia over time
The chart below shows babies named Malia registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Malia, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 56 births in 2024, compared with 94 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malia 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 | #621 | 330 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1520 | 256 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2192 | 103 | 9 |
Geography
Where Malia is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Malia. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Malia ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #331 in 2003.
Across the UK
Malia in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#384 in 2024
9 years of NRS records, 58 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#331 in 2003
1 years of NISRA records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Malia
- 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
Malia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Malia in the UK right now?
In 2024, Malia was ranked #676 for girls in England and Wales, with 56 births registered.
When was Malia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 94 babies registered as Malia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Malia?
Of Hawaiian origin meaning "calm" or "shaded by the calm".
How many people are called Malia in the UK?
A total of 689 babies have been registered as Malia across the 24 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 58 more in Scotland and 3 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Malia most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Malia ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #331 in 2003. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.