The baby name Mellah is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced MEL-uh (IPA: /ˈmɛlə/).
The baby name Mellah is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced MEL-uh (IPA: /ˈmɛlə/).
Mellah is in Origin.
Rooted in Maghrebi Arabic, Mellah traces to the Semitic root m-l-ḥ (“salt”). In Arabic mallāḥ denotes a sailor or navigator, and by extension names connected to salt trading; in Morocco mellah also became the toponym for the historic Jewish quarters established from the 15th century onward. As a given name, Mellah therefore carries layered senses of “sailor,” “seafaring,” and “of salt,” evoking navigation, resilience, and preservation.
Usage has been rarer as a first name than as a North African surname, but Mellah appears as a modern unisex choice in Morocco, Algeria, and the diaspora (notably France and Canada). Spellings and related forms include Mallah, Melah, and the Hebrew-influenced Melach/Melakh (“salt”). Short forms Mella or Mellie occur in European contexts. Comparable names by sound include Mila and Mela, though they are etymologically distinct.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP | Girls | 0 | #251 | 1 | 6,592 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #427 | 3 | 13,098 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #559 | 2 | 11,671 |
| LY | 0 | #559 | 1 | 12,703 | |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #560 | 2 | 19,177 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #575 | 1 | 12,054 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| TN | 0 | #863 | 3 | 13,765 | |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #998 | 4 | 16,906 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,011 | 4 | 25,931 |
| DZ | 0 | #1,079 | 98 | 20,130 | |
| MA | 0 | #1,110 | 19 | 20,986 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,230 | 7 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,254 | 1 | 19,440 |
Mellah is popular in 13 countries — most recent births per country:
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