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Home › Baby Names Directory › Malibu

Malibu

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAL-ih-boo /ˈmæl.ɪ.bu/High

Meaning: From Malibu — the California coastal place, from the Chumash 'Humaliwo', 'where the surf sounds loudly'; a place-name; we note the placeLow

In 30 seconds: Where the surf sounds loudly: Malibu is a California place-name. Crisp, breezy, and warm.
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Origin LowChumash
MeaningFrom Malibu — the California coastal place, from the Chumash 'Humaliwo', 'where the surf sounds loudly'; a place-name; we note the place
U.S. rank (2025)#5502 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births23 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 170

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319942025

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

Malibu comes from the California coastal place Malibu — from the Chumash Humaliwo, 'where the surf sounds loudly' (we note the place). A crisp, breezy place-name (said 'MAL-ih-boo'; nickname Mali).

In the U.S. it registers thinly as a name. Rare, where-the-surf-sounds-loudly at the root, and breezy.

Did you know? Malibu comes from the Chumash 'Humaliwo', 'where the surf sounds loudly' — the famous California coastal place — a crisp, breezy place-name (we note the place; said 'MAL-ih-boo').
Overall data confidence 38%
References — Malibu — place noted

Variations

Malibou

Nicknames

Mali

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Malibu…

Sierra— a fellow California/place nature-name girls' name
Savannah— a companion place nature-name girls' name
Brooklyn— a fellow place-name girls' name
Montana— a similarly popular pick
Monserrat— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Malibu mean?

Malibu is a California place-name — from Chumash 'where the surf sounds loudly'. We note the place.

How do you pronounce Malibu?

It's said MAL-ih-boo /ˈmæl.ɪ.bu/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Malibu a boy or girl name?

Malibu is a girl's name.

How popular is Malibu?

Malibu is a very rare name in the U.S.

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