Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How would you pronounce the name 'malia'

85 replies

ShazGranger · 17/06/2019 14:28

Hi all!

We are wanting to call our baby girl 'malia' but am wondering how it's going to be pronounced? We want it pronounced like Obama s daughter. Will that work in the UK do you think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Ittastesvile · 02/11/2023 08:43

yourestandingonmyneck · 26/06/2019 22:22

There's no 'r' in it, where are so many posters getting the r from? Confused

This comes up on loads of threads. Mar and Mah sound the same in some accents, including mine. Just like Bath is pronounced Bar-th. Obviously no literal r in either word.

Curiousparent123 · 02/11/2023 06:52

Hi can you explain more about this decision? Can you direct me to the thread that recommends Maliah? We are going through the exact same decision as you!

paperandfireworks · 26/06/2019 22:47

Mal e ah, like the resort.

yourestandingonmyneck · 26/06/2019 22:22

There's no 'r' in it, where are so many posters getting the r from? Confused

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 26/06/2019 18:31

Oh just looked it up & I was wrong! It IS like Maria with an L !!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RVhr-zRoIDw

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 26/06/2019 18:27

Mahh lee ah.

Teddybear45 · 26/06/2019 18:25

Malia IS pronounced muh-lee-aa. It’s the ‘Western’ pronunciation that’s wrong.

schnubbins · 26/06/2019 18:21

Americans pronounce their vowel sounds differently especially the 'A' Try and order water there and you will find out

Fatkins · 26/06/2019 17:54

Lol no! Muh like the u in the word under.

Full moons how did we get into ANOTHER pronunciation debate already 😂?

Fullmoons · 26/06/2019 17:20

Shouldn't it then be spelled Mulia rather than Malia? Confused

Fullmoons · 26/06/2019 17:19

Do they really say Muh as in Moo?

Saharasunset · 26/06/2019 17:07

I know the Obama's pronounce it in Muh-Lee-ah

I'd pronounce it like the infamous party island - Mal-lee-ah

Fatkins · 26/06/2019 16:17

Mu-LEE-ah I meant to say.

Fatkins · 26/06/2019 16:07

I know a little Melia (I think that's how it's spelt). They pronounce it Mu-lee-ah. I like Maliah and agree that avoiding the Greek resort is a good plan Grin.

Fullmoons · 25/06/2019 07:39

Malia like Thalia

Maliah like Mariah

TheHandsOfNeilBuchanan · 25/06/2019 00:31

MA Leeah A like cat like the Greek clubbing resort on Crete

Polkadotpolly · 24/06/2019 18:48

I’d pronounce Maliah as I would Mariah
Either way you spell it, a lot of people would associate it with the party place

Fullmoons · 24/06/2019 13:43

Is say Ma lia like Ta lia

Namaste6 · 24/06/2019 05:49

Mah-lee-ah

Dragonlight · 24/06/2019 05:12

mah lee ah
Or could also be
Mah lee ah
I like both :)

Malaiese · 24/06/2019 04:45

I just saw you update. If I saw your new spelling Maliah, I would be guessing Mar- lee- ar, the 'ah' at the end makes me want to give a long ahhh sound at the end.

So I would suggest going with your original spelling. Malia looks nicer also I think.

Malaiese · 24/06/2019 04:36

I didn't know about Obama's daughter but I would think it was like Talia. So I would check the pronounciation first as I know that varies with that name.

So I would be guessing mar-lee-ar (more emphasis on the mar) or muh-lee-ah (emphasis on the lee)

Zimmumuk · 22/06/2019 22:34

This is my 2yos name - Maria with an L.
I do have to correct people on pronounciation.

BiscuitDrama · 22/06/2019 12:47

Mar is to show mah (a as in baaa) rather than ma (a as in cat) and mar and mah sound the same in many accents.

Pinkmouse6 · 22/06/2019 12:44

Marley-uh.

It reminds me of malaria.