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NamyLab

Malaika

female
Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Angel"

Malaika is widely used in Swahili contexts meaning angel, reflecting an Arabic lexical source in East African usage.

Themes:angelswahiliarabicfeminine
BiblicalUniqueRare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Malaika

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#2201Ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
#2201

Malaika was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
+278

better than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Malaika Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Malaika.

11 ideas
Malie
Nickname
Mala
Nickname
mala
Nickname
ma
Nickname
aika
Nickname
maly
Nickname
ikay
Nickname
my
Nickname
mo
Nickname
mie
Nickname
laiy
Nickname

Similar Names to Malaika

female

Anna

AN-uh

“Grace; Favor”

#94
|Hebrew
female

Angela

AN-juh-luh

“Messenger; Angel”

#282
|Greek
female

Ann

“Grace, Favor”

#1141
|Hebrew
female

Abigail

AB-ih-gayl

“My Father Is Joy”

#32
|Hebrew
female

Amber

“Amber Resin”

#541
|Arabic
female

Annie

“Grace, Favor”

#191
|Hebrew
female

Anne

“Grace; Favor”

#649
|Hebrew
female

Anita

“Grace Favor”

#1463
|Hebrew
female

Annette

“Grace”

#1304
|French
female

Alma

“Nourishing; Kind”

#472
|Latin

Baby Name Lists That Include Malaika

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Malaika, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

15 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Malaika mean?
Malaika means "Angel". Malaika is widely used in Swahili contexts meaning angel, reflecting an Arabic lexical source in East African usage.
What is the origin of Malaika?
Malaika is of Swahili origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name Malaika?
According to the latest SSA data, Malaika is currently ranked #2201 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is Malaika a girl name?
Malaika is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for Malaika?
Popular nicknames for Malaika include Malie, Mala, mala, ma, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to Malaika?
There are many names similar to Malaika in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginSwahili, Arabic
Syllables3
Length7 letters
US Rank#2201
Trend↑ Rising
Starts withM

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Girl Names Like Malaika

Malaika has Swahili roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Swahili baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Malaika appears in several of our curated collections. Check out African Baby Names and Unique Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Arabic Baby Names and Biblical Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Malaika pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Malaika beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.