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Maleah

♀ Girl

Pronounced muh-LEE-uh /məˈliː.ə/High

Meaning: Possibly a variant of Malia (Hawaiian form of Mary: bitter, beloved) or a blend of Maleah (Hebrew: tired, weary) with -ah suffixMedium

In 30 seconds: A name of uncertain origin — possibly the Hawaiian form of Mary (Malia) with an -eah ending, or a creative American variant. Its soft three-syllable sound fits comfortably in the Aaliyah/Maleah/Malia naming cluster.

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Origin MediumHebrew, Spanish, Hawaiian

MeaningPossibly a variant of Malia (Hawaiian form of Mary: bitter, beloved) or a blend of Maleah (Hebrew: tired, weary) with -ah suffix

U.S. rank (2024)#1210 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births195 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2009

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,237

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Maleah appears to be a variant of Malia, the Hawaiian form of Mary, which itself derives from Hebrew Miriam (bitter, beloved, or wished-for child). The -eah ending adds a Hebrew-style suffix.

Maleah appeared in U.S. birth data in the 2000s and ranked #1210 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Malia (the Hawaiian form Maleah derives from) is a beloved name in Hawaii — it is the name of Malia Obama (born 1998), eldest daughter of President Barack Obama, and means 'Mary' (calm, peaceful) in Hawaiian.

Overall data confidence 72%

U.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MaliaMaliahMalaya

Nicknames

MaliLeeLeah

Famous Bearers

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If you like Maleah…

Malia— the Hawaiian/standard form from which Maleah derives

Aaliyah— popular -iah/-eah ending name in the same community

Maliyah— the -iyah expansion of the same Mali- root

Leah— Hebrew name sharing the -leah ending

Maya— two-syllable name from the same soft, open-vowel category

Explore names like Maleah

By themehebrew three-syllable hawaiian uncertain-origin

By meaningLove

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maleah mean?

Maleah is likely a variant of Malia, the Hawaiian form of Mary, meaning 'calm' or 'peaceful.' The exact etymology is uncertain.

How do you pronounce Maleah?

It's said muh-LEE-uh — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Maleah a boy or girl name?

Maleah is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Maleah?

Maleah ranked #1210 for U.S. girls in 2024.