Maleah

Maleah is a modern English feminine name that appears to be a creative elaboration or phonetic respelling of Malia, itself a Hawaiian and Swahili form of Mary. The name carries the general warmth and familiarity of the Mary family, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew Miryam, a name of uncertain meaning though often associated with roots relating to beloved or wished-for child. Maleah gained broader public visibility in the United States during the early 21st century as part of a trend toward melodic, vowel-rich invented names. Related forms include Malia, Maliah, and Malea.