Malala

Q: What is the origin of Malala?

Malala is of Pashto origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Malala a girl name?

Malala is traditionally a girl name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

female

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Grieving; Delicate"

Malala is a Pashto name historically linked to poetic epithets and has gained global recognition through notable contemporary bearers.

Themes:pashtopoeticnotable

Unique Rare

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 Malala

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#16729Ranked nationally

SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

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

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Malala did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

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

Malala Nicknames

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

8 ideas

mala

Nickname

maly

Nickname

lala

Nickname

laly

Nickname

alay

Nickname

Similar Names to Malala

female

Ann

“Grace, Favor”

#1141

|Hebrew

female

Anita

“Grace Favor”

#1463

|Hebrew

female

Annette

“Grace”

#1304

|French

female

Agnes

“Pure”

#1063

|Greek

female

Arlene

“Pledge or Promise”

#1798

|English

female

Antoinette

“Priceless One”

#2882

|French

female

Alberta

“Noble; Bright”

#10281

|Germanic

female

Adrienne

“From Hadria”

#1455

|French

female

Alisha

“Noble”

#1137

|Hebrew

female

Aimee

“Beloved”

#1467

|French

Baby Name Lists That Include Malala

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

13 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Malala mean?

Malala means "Grieving; Delicate". Malala is a Pashto name historically linked to poetic epithets and has gained global recognition through notable contemp

What is the origin of Malala?

Malala is of Pashto origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Malala?

According to the latest SSA data, Malala is currently ranked #16729 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 Malala a girl name?

Malala 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 Malala?

Popular nicknames for Malala include mala, maly, lala, ma, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Malala?

There are many names similar to Malala in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginPashto

Syllables3

Length6 letters

US Rank#16729

Trend→ Stable

Starts withM

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alton Al Ashley Addison Anson

Sisters

Arlene Addie Ashlee Ashleigh Audra

Explore More Girl Names Like Malala

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

Malala appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Travel And Adventure for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Malala pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Malala 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.