Girl · #8,980 in 2026

Melaya

The M'alayah is a popular Arab dancing art that is performed at weddings. It originates in northern Oman, as well as the northeast United Arab Emirates, and is widespread through most of the Arab world. The M'alayah dance is based on rapid movements of the hips and buttocks, the dance is usually harmonised with local popular folk songs. It is the precursor of Belly dancing.

Current Rank
#8,980
Peak Rank
#9,147 (2011)
Total Babies
150
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2003
First Year
2023
Last Year
2011
Peak Year
#9147
Peak Rank
150
Total Count
19
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Melaya

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

The M'alayah is a popular Arab dancing art that is performed at weddings. It originates in northern Oman, as well as the northeast United Arab Emirates, and is widespread through most of the Arab world. The M'alayah dance is based on rapid movements of the hips and buttocks, the dance is usually harmonised with local popular folk songs. It is the precursor of Belly dancing.

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

The Story of Melaya

Melaya first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2003, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2011, when 12 Melayas were born — ranking #9,147 that year. As of 2026, Melaya ranks #8,980 for baby girls with 11 births, with steady use. In total, more than 150 Melayas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Names that sound like Melaya

Phonetically similar names — useful when Melaya 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 Melaya

What does the name Melaya mean?
The M'alayah is a popular Arab dancing art that is performed at weddings. It originates in northern Oman, as well as the northeast United Arab Emirates, and is widespread through most of the Arab world. The M'alayah dance is based on rapid movements of the hips and buttocks, the dance is usually harmonised with local popular folk songs. It is the precursor of Belly dancing.
How popular is Melaya in 2026?
In 2026, Melaya ranks #8,980 among girls' names in the U.S., with 11 babies given the name that year.
When was Melaya most popular?
Melaya reached its peak popularity in 2011, ranking #9,147 that year with 12 babies given the name.
Is Melaya a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Melaya is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Melaya?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Melaya include Bellina, Aliceson, Starlit. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Bellina
Peak #9147
👧
Aliceson
Peak #9147
👧
Starlit
Peak #9147
👧
Joee
Peak #9147
👧
Adreena
Peak #9147
👧
Bianna
Peak #9147
👧
Tylan
Peak #9147
👧
Kortlynn
Peak #9147

About the name Melaya

Melaya is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2003 and has accumulated 150 births in the dataset. Melaya's peak popularity came in 2011 when it ranked #9,147. Use the chart and map above to compare Melaya'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.