Maleah

Maleah is a modern English feminine name that most likely emerged as a phonetic elaboration or variant spelling of Malia, itself a Hawaiian and Samoan adaptation of Mary, which derives from the Hebrew Miryam, a name of debated meaning often interpreted as beloved or wished-for child. The spelling with the added h at the end may also reflect influence from Leah, the Hebrew name meaning weary or cow. Maleah gained gradual popularity in the United States during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries as parents sought distinctive but melodic-sounding names. Related forms include Malia, Maliah, and Malea.