Girl · #5,042 in 2026

Mahala

A mahalla is an Arabic word that comes from the root ḥ-l-l, and originally denoted a place where one makes a halt. It has been variously translated as district, quarter, ward, or neighborhood in many parts of the Arab world, the Balkans, West and Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and nearby nations.

  • English
Current Rank
#5,042
Peak Rank
#352 (2006)
Total Babies
3K
5-Yr Trend
-2%
1880
First Year
2026
Last Year
2006
Peak Year
#352
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
142
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Mahala

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A mahalla is an Arabic word that comes from the root ḥ-l-l, and originally denoted a place where one makes a halt. It has been variously translated as district, quarter, ward, or neighborhood in many parts of the Arab world, the Balkans, West and Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and nearby nations.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
Origin & history
Historically, mahallas were autonomous social institutions built around familial ties and Islamic rituals. Today it is popularly recognised also by non-Muslims as a neighbourhood in large cities and towns. Mahallas lie at the intersection of private family life and the public sphere. Important community-level management functions are performed through mahalle solidarity, such as religious ceremonies, life-cycle rituals, resource management and conflict resolution. It is an official administrative unit in many Middle Eastern countries. The word was brought to the Balkans through Ottoman Turkish

The Story of Mahala

The earliest SSA record of Mahala as a baby girl name dates back to 1880, when 9 babies received it. 2006 was its biggest year on record, with 74 newborns named Mahala — #2,484 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 21% of all recorded Mahalas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #5,042 among baby girl names with 26 births, holding steady (-2%). In total, more than 3K Mahalas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Mahala

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Mahala. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Mahala

Phonetically similar names — useful when Mahala is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mahala

What does the name Mahala mean?
A mahalla is an Arabic word that comes from the root ḥ-l-l, and originally denoted a place where one makes a halt. It has been variously translated as district, quarter, ward, or neighborhood in many parts of the Arab world, the Balkans, West and Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and nearby nations.
What is the origin of the name Mahala?
Mahala has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.
How popular is Mahala in 2026?
In 2026, Mahala ranks #5,042 among girls' names in the U.S., with 26 babies given the name that year.
When was Mahala most popular?
Mahala reached its peak popularity in 2006, ranking #352 that year with 74 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Mahala most popular?
Mahala has historically been most popular in West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Mahala.
Is Mahala a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Mahala is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Mahala?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Mahala include Lavinia, Marietta, Phebe. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Mahala?
Common variants and related forms of Mahala include Mahalia. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

Similar Names

👧
Lavinia
Peak #352
👧
Marietta
Peak #352
👧
Phebe
Peak #352
👧
Corrine
Peak #352
👧
Gene
Peak #352
👧
Jaimie
Peak #352
👧
Katy
Peak #351
👧
Lauretta
Peak #351

About the name Mahala

Mahala is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Mahala's peak popularity came in 2006 when it ranked #352. Use the chart and map above to compare Mahala's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.