Girl · #14,958 in 2026

Mahalah

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.

Current Rank
#14,958
Peak Rank
#8,079 (1995)
Total Babies
54
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1995
First Year
2010
Last Year
1995
Peak Year
#8079
Peak Rank
54
Total Count
8
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Mahalah

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 →

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 Mahalah

Mahalah first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1995, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1995, when 10 Mahalahs were born — ranking #8,079 that year. As of 2026, Mahalah ranks #14,958 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 54 Mahalahs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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No data

Names that sound like Mahalah

Phonetically similar names — useful when Mahalah 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 Mahalah

What does the name Mahalah 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.
How popular is Mahalah in 2026?
In 2026, Mahalah ranks #14,958 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Mahalah most popular?
Mahalah reached its peak popularity in 1995, ranking #8,079 that year with 10 babies given the name.
Is Mahalah a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Mahalah is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Mahalah?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Mahalah include Celsa, Justyn, Mariena. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Celsa
Peak #8079
👧
Justyn
Peak #8079
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Mariena
Peak #8079
👧
Jamice
Peak #8079
👧
Devlin
Peak #8079
👧
Mareesa
Peak #8079
👧
Kasmira
Peak #8079
👧
Chrishana
Peak #8079

About the name Mahalah

Mahalah is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1995 and has accumulated 54 births in the dataset. Mahalah's peak popularity came in 1995 when it ranked #8,079. Use the chart and map above to compare Mahalah'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.