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Maliha

Girl name · 12 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Maliha: 12 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 6 births in 2023.

Maliha is a name of Arabic origin, derived from the root m-l-h meaning “beautiful,” “graceful,” or “salt” (a substance long associated with purity and preservation). It carries a gently melodic sound, popular across Muslim cultures. One notable bearer is Maliha Zulfikar, a Pakistani mountaineer who became the first Pakistani woman to summit K2 in 2022, adding a spirit of adventure to the name. While no famous place is directly named after a Maliha, the root shares an indirect link with the city of Malé, capital of the Maldives, whose name also traces to the same meaning of “beauty.” Variants include Maleeha and Maliya, and the name has grown in global visibility through literature and diaspora families, offering a soft yet strong choice for parents seeking a name with cross-cultural warmth.

Girl 3 of 52 years

Peak year
20236 babies
Latest (2023)
#4826 babies
Total births
12since 1996
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2023 · 6
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).