Malia — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Malia is a girls' name of Hawaiian/Mary origin, meaning "beloved; calm waters". Hawaiian form of Mary — the Obama daughters brought it to the world's attention.

Style & feel. With international on its style card, Malia sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 2 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Malia pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Leilani, Nalani share its sound-world). If you like Malia, you'll probably also love Leilani, Nalani, Aiko — same era, same energy, same bone structure.