Malia

Meaning of Malia

Malia is the Hawaiian version of the name Mary. It generally means "bitter" or "rebellious", but some interpret it as "star of the sea."

Malia has Hawaiian roots — browse every Hawaiian baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Malia

Malia has cooled off, slipping to #349 in 2025, down from a peak of #192 in 2009.

Notable people named Malia

• Malia Obama
  Daughter of Barack Obama
• Malia Baker
  New Zealand actress
• Malia Pyles
  American actress
• Malia Jones
  American surfer and model
• Malia Metella
  French swimmer

More Hawaiian names

Questions about the name Malia

What does the name Malia mean?

Malia means malia is the hawaiian version of the name mary. it generally means "bitter" or "rebellious", but some interpret it as "star of the sea.", and it comes from Hawaiian origins.

Is Malia a boy's or a girl's name?

Malia is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Malia?

In 2025, Malia ranked #349 for girls, down from #326 the year before.

When was Malia most popular?

Malia peaked at #192 in 2009.