The baby name Malai is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /məˈlaɪ/ — 'muh-LY' (common rendering); Thai/Tamil pronunciations are similar: ma-lai.
The baby name Malai is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /məˈlaɪ/ — 'muh-LY' (common rendering); Thai/Tamil pronunciations are similar: ma-lai.
Malai is Hindi, Tamil, Thai, Urdu in Origin.
Malai carries multiple South and Southeast Asian roots. In Tamil, two near-homophonous words transliterated as “Malai” exist: mālai (மாலை) meaning “garland” or “evening,” and malai (மலை) meaning “hill” or “mountain.” In Thai (มาลัย, malai), the term denotes a floral garland offered in welcome, respect, or devotion. As a given name, it thus evokes blossoms, festivity, twilight, and lofty heights.
Used in Tamil- and Thai-speaking communities and, increasingly, in the diaspora, Malai is typically feminine but can be unisex. Variants include Mālai and Maalai; related names are Mala (Sanskrit “garland”) and Malini (“garlanded; jasmine”). While rare in formal records before the late 20th century, it has gained modest contemporary appeal for its gentle sound, multicultural resonance, and auspicious imagery.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | 0 | #32 | 1 | 2,297 | |
| MV | Boys | 0 | #79 | 1 | 3,375 |
| MD | Boys | 0 | #80 | 2 | 756 |
| MD | Girls | 0 | #92 | 1 | 865 |
| BN | Girls | 0 | #112 | 3 | 5,459 |
| BN | Boys | 0 | #123 | 11 | 6,332 |
| CR | 0 | #165 | 1 | 5,526 | |
| MO | Girls | 0 | #263 | 1 | 7,056 |
| SG | 0 | #280 | 3 | 11,010 | |
| KZ | Boys | 0 | #296 | 1 | 6,578 |
| AL | Boys | 0 | #303 | 1 | 5,122 |
| SA | 0 | #312 | 1 | 10,560 | |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #339 | 1 | 7,570 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| MY | 0 | #350 | 5 | 12,352 | |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| YE | 0 | #397 | 2 | 8,639 | |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #408 | 1 | 11,440 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #423 | 2 | 15,987 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #522 | 2 | 11,913 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #522 | 5 | 12,621 |
| BH | 0 | #524 | 30 | 17,937 | |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #533 | 166 | 17,960 |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #545 | 1 | 8,334 |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #547 | 1 | 10,981 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #555 | 6 | 11,671 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #558 | 4 | 19,177 |
| LY | 0 | #559 | 1 | 12,703 | |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #560 | 2 | 10,655 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #569 | 7 | 12,054 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #572 | 15 | 18,916 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #573 | 1 | 11,342 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #591 | 7 | 20,968 |
| BD | Boys | 0 | #605 | 1 | 10,045 |
| AR | Girls | 0 | #630 | 1 | 8,289 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #645 | 6 | 16,104 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #645 | 1 | 11,648 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #650 | 5 | 13,121 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #671 | 37 | 18,093 |
| LB | 0 | #690 | 1 | 13,263 | |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #697 | 1 | 13,071 |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #700 | 1 | 13,390 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #709 | 61 | 18,755 |
| Finland | Girls | 2026 | #734 | 5 | 3,895 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #820 | 62 | 17,948 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #825 | 2 | 15,093 |
| TN | 0 | #865 | 1 | 13,765 | |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #907 | 10 | 8,487 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #923 | 13 | 25,931 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #942 | 60 | 16,750 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #960 | 35 | 24,821 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #971 | 122 | 22,615 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #992 | 1 | 12,708 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #999 | 3 | 16,906 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,013 | 99 | 25,439 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,152 | 1 | 16,140 |
| MA | 0 | #1,199 | 1 | 20,986 | |
| DZ | 0 | #1,233 | 2 | 20,130 | |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,267 | 1 | 17,781 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,268 | 5 | 25,619 |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,434 | 13 | 9,415 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,457 | 158 | 28,008 |
Malai is popular in 42 countries — most recent births per country:
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