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Malaika

♀ Girl

Pronounced mal-AYK-a /mæl.ˈeɪk.æ/Medium

Meaning: AngelMedium

In 30 seconds: Malaika is a Swahili girl's name meaning 'angel'.
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Origin MediumSwahili
MeaningAngel
U.S. rank (2024)#2201 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births86 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,584

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419682024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Malaika comes from Swahili, where it means 'angel'. The word is widely recognized across East Africa, partly through its use in song and everyday speech, and it carries that gentle, protective association into use as a given name.

It relates to a cluster of similar-sounding forms used elsewhere, including Malak, Mələk, and Melek, which share the angelic meaning across other languages. Two notable bearers are the Indian actress and dancer Malaika Arora and the German Olympic long-jump champion Malaika Mihambo.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Malaika is 'angel', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Malaika — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MalakMələkMelek

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Malaika Arora (1973-present)
    Indian actress, dancer and television personality.
  • ★Malaika Mihambo (1994-present)
    German long jumper, Olympic champion and two-time world champion.

If you like Malaika…

Malak— A listed variant carrying the same 'angel' meaning in a shorter form.
Melek— A related variation of the angel name used in other languages.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Malaika mean?

Malaika is usually explained as meaning 'angel' and is most often linked with Swahili tradition.

How do you pronounce Malaika?

It's commonly said mal-AYK-a /mæl.ˈeɪk.æ/.

Is Malaika a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Malaika is used as a girl name.

How popular is Malaika?

In 2024, Malaika ranked #2201 in the U.S. for girls, with 86 births recorded.