Malay: Name Meaning, Origin, and Popularity

Pronunciation: m-ahl-ahy
Origin: Saudi Arabia
gender-female

Emmy Samtani

Emmy Samtani

Emmy is the founder of Kiindred and mother to 3 little ones. Over the last 4 years, she has worked with some of the most credible experts in the parenting space and is a keen contributor on all things parenthood.
Updated on Apr 14, 2025 · 1 min read
Region Origin: North Africa, Western Asia, Middle East
Meaning: A variant of nature or Sanskrit

The name "Malay " has its roots in various cultures and languages. The name 'Malay' refers to an ethnic group and does not mean 'son of' or 'daughter of'. The patronymic terms 'bin' and 'binti' are used in Malay naming conventions to denote 'son of' and 'daughter of', respectively. For example, "Malay " can be "bin" or "binti" in Malay naming conventions. The use of this name has changed over time, reflecting the influence of Islam and Arabic names. In pre-modern times, traditional Malay names were often derived from nature or Sanskrit, but with the spread of Islam, Arabic names became more prevalent. Today, Malay names continue to evolve, with many opting for Arabic names due to cultural and linguistic influences.

Malay Name Popularity Data

chat-overall Malay is currently #22544 in the popularity of the name rankings.
gender-female Girl: Malay is currently #12900 on Kiindred Girl Names
gender-male Overall Nature: Malay is currently #10996 on Kiindred Nature Names
gender-female Girl Nature: Malay is currently #6238 on Kiindred Girl Nature Names
gender-male Overall Unique: Malay is currently #11390 on Kiindred Unique Names
gender-female Girl Unique: Malay is currently #6487 on Kiindred Girl Unique Names

Popularity Trend Chart

Wikipedia, NSW Births Deaths and Marriages, QLD Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, WA Registry of Births, SA Registry of Births, VIC Registry of Births, Social Security Administration

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