Malaysia Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Malaysia originates from the Malay language, meaning 'Land of the Malays'. It evolved from 'Malaya' and gained prominence in the 20th century during the formation of the Malaysian Federation. Malaysia is often associated with multiculturalism and economic growth, and it lacks biblical relevance.
The name Malaysia is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Malaysia has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Malaysia' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3249th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1105th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 546th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Malaysia' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Malaysia"
Pronunciation
/məˈleɪziə/
Origin
Malay
Etymology
The name 'Malaysia' is derived from the Malay word 'Malaya', which refers to the Malay Peninsula. The suffix '-sia' is often used in geographical names and is derived from the Latin 'Siae'.
Meaning
Land of the Malays
Language Evolution
Malaya, Malay Peninsula, Malaysian Federation
Historical Usage
The name 'Malaysia' gained popularity in the mid-20th century when the Federation of Malaya was formed and later expanded to include other territories.
Variants & Derivatives
Malaya, Malaysian
Modern Popularity & Image
Malaysia is perceived as a multicultural and diverse nation known for its rich heritage, natural beauty, and economic development.
Famous People
Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Cynthia Lee MacQuarrie
Explore More Malaysia Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Malaysia"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Malaysia"
"Malaysia" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3249th of 27321 | 503 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1105th of 35406 | 3,433 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 546th of 30306 | 6,817 |
Regional Popularity of "Malaysia" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Malaysia" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
75.33% 2776th/3685 |
45.61% 2041st/4475 |
57.12% 2967th/5194 |
43.80% 2767th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
31.82% 1458th/4582 |
20.22% 1044th/5164 |
10.41% 761st/7313 |
22.16% 1654th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.45% 536th/3984 |
16.45% 738th/4487 |
5.19% 354th/6822 |
22.48% 1411th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Malaysia"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Malaysia" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.