Malika

Meaning of Malika

Malika derives from the classical Arabic مَلِكَة‎ (malika), “queen,” a feminine counterpart to Malik, and by extension belongs to the ancient Semitic root *mlk* denoting rulership; the form entered English-language usage through twentieth-century immigration and has since acquired a quiet, pan-Islamic cosmopolitanism, appearing in Persian, Urdu, and Swahili with the same regal sense. Pronounced mah-LEE-kah (/mɑːˈliːkə/), the name carries overt associations with sovereignty, composure, and feminine authority, themes that resonate with parents seeking a subtly assertive alternative to more familiar royal appellations such as Regina or Reina. United States birth-record data confirm a consistent, mid-range presence—generally between ranks 640 and 920 since the early 1970s—suggesting neither fad-driven volatility nor obscurity but rather a measured endurance that mirrors the name’s poised meaning.