Malaya
Girl name · English · Filipino · Spanish
Meaningfree · Filipino
- US rank
- #774
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #633 in 2013
351 babies were named Malaya in the US in 2025. It has dropped 107 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1977–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Malaya you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,579 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Malaya, 351 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Malaya would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMalaya first shows up in US birth records in 1977, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 48 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2013, when it reached #633.
- Then vs nowMalaya is 4.7× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 21,598 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 4,579.
- TrendMalaya has slipped 107 places over the last five years and now sits at #774. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedMalaya is most popular in New Mexico, where it ranks #296, followed by West Virginia (#308) and Georgia (#431). It's in the top 1,000 in 23 states.
- MeaningIn Filipino, Malaya means “free”. Our records link it to English, Filipino and Spanish roots.
- OriginMalaya is the most popular Filipino girl name in the US. That's out of 17 Filipino girl and unisex names in our list.
About the name Malaya
Malaya is a girl name of English, Filipino and Spanish origin meaning “free”. It has 6 letters and 3 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-aya”. US birth records list Malaya for girls from 1977 to 2025, in 45 of those 49 years. Its best year was 2013, when it ranked #633 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #774, with 351 babies.
Origin:English namesFilipino namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.0 | 201,342 girls |
| 1980s | 1.9 | 523,560 girls |
| 1990s | 13 | 79,177 girls |
| 2000s | 107 | 9,387 girls |
| 2010s | 223 | 4,476 girls |
| 2020s | 236 | 4,235 girls |
Other spellings of Malaya
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Malaya
What does the name Malaya mean?
Malaya means “free” in Filipino.
What is the origin of the name Malaya?
Malaya has English, Filipino, Spanish roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Malaya a boy or girl name?
Malaya is a girl name.
How popular is the name Malaya?
Malaya ranked #774 for US girls in 2025, given to 351 babies. Its best year was 2013 (#633).