Maliah is associated with the meaning “Beloved, gentle, or bitter sea” — a beautiful sentiment to see brought to life in your child’s room.
Maliah is widely considered a modern variant of the name Malia, which itself comes from the Hawaiian form of Mary. Mary traces back to the Hebrew name Miriam, meaning "beloved," "wished-for child," or possibly "bitter." Some also connect Maliah to the Arabic root meaning "queen" or "riches." The added "h" is a spelling adaptation common in American naming culture.