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Malika

♀ Girl

Pronounced MA-lee-ka /ˈma.li.ka/Medium

Meaning: QueenMedium

In 30 seconds: Malika is an Arabic name meaning 'queen'.
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Origin MediumArabic
MeaningQueen
U.S. rank (2024)#2834 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births59 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1996
Total births (all-time)≈ 4,901

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199619662024

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

History & Origin

From Arabic, Malika carries the regal meaning 'queen', the feminine counterpart to the word for king. Its variations show how it adapts across languages and scripts, from the accented Málika and Mälikä to the Turkish Melike. The name has been carried by notable women including the singer Malika Pukhraj (1912–2004) and Malika Ayane (born 1984).

The three even syllables give Malika a stately, balanced sound that suits its meaning. The shift to Melike in Turkish shows the same name reshaping its vowels as it crosses cultures.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Malika is 'queen', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Malika — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

MálikaMälikäMelike

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Malika Pukhraj (1912–2004)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Malika Ayane (1984–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Malika…

Malak— Built on the same Arabic root family as Malika.
Malik— The masculine 'king' counterpart to Malika's 'queen'.
Amira— Another Arabic girls' name with a regal meaning, akin to Malika's royal sense.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Malika mean?

Malika is usually explained as meaning 'queen' and is most often linked with Arabic tradition.

How do you pronounce Malika?

It's commonly said MA-lee-ka /ˈma.li.ka/.

Is Malika a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Malika?

In 2024, Malika ranked #2834 in the U.S. for girls, with 59 births recorded.