Malia is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #654 in 1998 with 353 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2009 with 1,700 births ranking #192. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 31.2%. In 1998, approximately 1 in every 5,005 girls born was named Malia. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Malia is a beautiful Hawaiian form of Maria and belongs to the wide Mary family. Like many Mary-related names, the traditional meaning is interpreted in more than one way.
The name gained broader visibility outside Hawaii because it sounds modern and melodic while still resting on a very old classic root. It offers a fresh-feeling alternative to Maria and Mary.