MuslimGirlPashto
Malala: name meaning, origin and pronunciation
ملالہ
ملالۍ
What Malala means
The meaning of Malala (ملالہ) is disputed: the sources do not settle it. It is used as a Muslim girl’s name. The details are below.
Malala at a glance
- Meaning
- Meaning disputed
- Gender
- Girl
- Origin
- Pashto
- Faith
- Muslim
- Say it
- ma-laa-la
- Syllables
- 3
- Letters
- 6
- First letter
- M · م
Origin and history of Malala
Meaning disputed
Often said to mean 'grief-stricken', from Persian malāl, sorrow, but Pashtuns give the name to honour the heroine Malalai rather than for that sense, and the derivation is not settled, so we give no meaning. A Pashtun name of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan.
Malalai of Maiwand rallied Afghan fighters at the Battle of Maiwand in 1880 and is a heroine of Pashtun tradition.
The word is real, but sources or popular claims disagree about the name. Each reading is shown with its source.
How to say and write Malala
- Say it
- ma-laa-la3 syllables · Audio recordings coming later
- English
- Malala
- Urdu
- ملالہ
- Original script
- ملالۍ
- Other spellings
- Malalai · Malalay
- Known bearer
- Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2014)
Sibling names for Malala
Muslim boy names that share a theme, origin or first letter with Malala.
- Bachaباچاking; childBoyPashto
- LemarلمرsunBoyPashto
- Mahadمہدcradle (as usually taken)BoyArabic
- Mahboob ul Haqمحبوب الحقbeloved of the TruthBoyArabic
- Mahboob ur Rahmanمحبوب الرحمٰنbeloved of the Most MercifulBoyArabic
- Mahfoozمحفوظprotected; guardedBoyArabic
- Mahirماہرskilful; expertBoyArabic
- Mahmoodمحمودpraised; praiseworthyBoyArabic
Names like Malala
- Madihaمدیحہpraise; a poem of praiseGirlArabic
- Mahaمہاa wild cow (oryx); a crystalGirlArabic
- Mahamماہمmy moon (one reading)GirlPersian
- MahboobaمحبوبہbelovedGirlArabic
- MaheenماہینMeaning disputedGirlPersian
- Mahfoozaمحفوظہprotected; kept safeGirlArabic
- Mahgulماہ گلmoon-flower; flower as fair as the moonGirlPersian
- Mahiraماہرہskilful, expertGirlArabic
- Mahjabeenمہ جبیںwith a brow like the moonGirlPersian
- Mahlaqaماہ لقاmoon-facedGirlPersian
Names that sound like Malala
Questions about the name Malala
What does the name Malala mean?
We found no entry for Malala in the classical dictionaries we use, so we give no meaning rather than repeat an unsourced one.
Is Malala a boy’s or a girl’s name?
Malala is a girl’s name.
Is Malala a Muslim name?
Yes. Malala is used by Muslim families. It is of Pashto origin. Often said to mean 'grief-stricken', from Persian malāl, sorrow, but Pashtuns give the name to honour the heroine Malalai rather than for that sense, and the derivation is not settled, so we give no meaning. A Pashtun name of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan.
How do you pronounce Malala?
Say it “ma-laa-la”: 3 syllables.
How do you write Malala in Urdu?
In Urdu script, Malala is written ملالہ. In its original script: ملالۍ.
What are other spellings of Malala?
Malala is also spelled Malalai, Malalay.
Who is a famous person named Malala?
Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2014)
Is the meaning of Malala verified?
Meaning disputed. The word is real, but sources or popular claims disagree about the name. Each reading is shown with its source. Every entry on Naam is still a draft awaiting review by a named scholar.