Malaika
Meaningangel · Swahili
Malaika is an African girl name meaning “angel”, with Swahili roots. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Malaika and you get Malakai. Same letters, different name.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Malaika would score 13 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
- GenerationMalaika peaked in 1972, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Malaika you'd meet today is about 53 years old. Now it's back in style, so there's a whole new generation of baby Malaikas too.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Malaika would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 20,619 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMalaika first shows up in US birth records in 1968, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 57 years since.
- Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Malaikas? Head to Massachusetts, where it's the #564 girl name, its best showing of any state.
US births per million girls, 1968–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Malaika
Malaika is a girl name of African origin meaning “angel”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 1970s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:African names
More African girl names
- Girl name: Layla · night
- Unisex name: Zuri · beautiful
- Girl name: Aisha · alive
- Girl name: Amber · amber resin
- Girl name: Zahra · radiant, bright
- Girl name: Imani · faith
- Unisex name: Amani · peace
- Girl name: Luisa · famous warrior
Questions about the name Malaika
What does the name Malaika mean?
Malaika means “angel” and comes from Swahili. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Angelique (“angel”), Malak (“angel”), Angeline (“angel, messenger”) and Angelette (“little angel”).
What is the origin of the name Malaika?
Malaika is African in origin, and its meaning traces back to Swahili. Other African names to consider are Layla (“night”), Zuri (“beautiful”), Aisha (“alive”) and Amber (“amber resin”).
Is Malaika a boy or girl name?
Malaika is a girl name. In 2025, 78 US girls were named Malaika.
How popular is the name Malaika?
Malaika ranked #2,326 for US girls in 2025, given to 78 babies. Its best year was 1972, when it reached #1,380. Over the last five years it has climbed 356 places.
What names are similar to Malaika?
If you like Malaika, you might also like Angelique, Malak, Angeline and Angelette.
What should I know before naming my baby Malaika?
Malaika is an African girl name meaning “angel”, with Swahili roots. Swahili names are often chosen for a quality or a blessing parents wish for their child. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.