Malia Obama: First Daughter's Name Surges In Popularity In 2009

The popularity of the First Family is leading more Americans to name their children after President Obama's daughter Malia, according to data released by the Social Security Administration on Friday.

"Maliyah" was the fastest growing name in popularity in 2009 and while the first daughter's name is spelled "Malia," the SSA says that the big jump is "undoubtedly" related to the popularity of the presidential family.

"Malia" still made the cut in being one of the top ten girls names to increase in prevalence over the year.

More Americans may also be naming their children after the younger first daughter, Sasha Obama, according to the SSA data. The Hill reports that the name "Sasha" also jumped in popularity in 2009, ranking as the year's 23rd fastest rising name.

In 2008, the election of President Obama had an immediate impact on baby naming across the country, the Associated Press reported at the time. One Florida couple named their child after the President on the November night he was elected, but before he was even officially declared the nation's next commander-in-chief.

Comments

[TheLarryB]

10:43 AM on 05/29/2010

You can be certain that some uneducated parent is going to misspell Malia, and some poor child is going to go through life with the name Malaria.

[donbrown]

05:45 AM on 05/10/2010

I wonder how many realize that Malia is a Hawaiian name that means calm or peaceful...

I Would be curious to know if the spelling "Maliyah" is being given predominately to African American girls?

So many seem to have oddly spelled names, different from their origins: "Deloris", instead of the original Spanish "Dolores" for example....a mistake or intentional?

Ironically, given the President's connection to Hawaii as well as Kenya (his father's birthplace),
"Malia" also means "queen" in Swahili, one language of Kenya.

Clever...

Just like first dog "Bo" also bears the president's initials and was Michelle's father's nickname.

[Rooster Coburn]

12:51 AM on 05/10/2010

Anyone who would name a child after a member of a liberal or progressive family probably shouldn't be having kids at all. I wouldn't even give my cats names that were associated with liberals.

[donbrown]

08:25 AM on 05/10/2010

How about "John"... as in Kennedy?

[Rooster Coburn]

11:34 AM on 05/10/2010

I would say that "John" is generic enough not to count.
If you wish you may insert your own "john" jokes below.
Space reserved for "john" humor.

[David Bledsoe]

08:35 AM on 05/10/2010

I was going to name my cat after "W" but War Criminal just did not sound right.

[bibimimi]

05:01 PM on 05/09/2010

What about Bo?

[munki]

01:04 AM on 05/09/2010

Beautiful name.
Maybe I should change my name to Malia, Maliya, Mahlia, Malie...

Am tired of old traditional names... Great name~

[BritishColumbian]

09:33 PM on 05/08/2010

For those of you wondering/speculating;

The origin of Malia is hawaiian (which should drive the "bithers" crazy!!)

The origin of Sasha is Russian and is both a name for boys or girls.

[tangelan]

09:54 PM on 05/08/2010

I think her given name is Natasha.

[adm4peace]

01:41 PM on 05/09/2010

True...I think they just nicknamed her Sasha.

[Tulka2]

06:53 PM on 05/08/2010

She is a beautiful, graceful child blessed with wonderful genes.

[lizmckenzie55]

10:16 AM on 05/10/2010

And more than likely is quite intelligent just as mom and dad are.

[Tulka2]

03:05 PM on 05/10/2010

Women without intelligence might be pretty, but are never beautiful.

[cyndeewi]

05:38 PM on 05/08/2010

I love her name

[Timestamp]

12:43 PM on 05/08/2010

LOL

[AppleJuiceJunkie316]

09:31 AM on 05/08/2010

At least their names mean something. Unfortunately, too many African-American names (I'm black just so you know) are constructed out of ignorance and mean absolutely nothing. I've heard a Cuequan (I can remember how it was spelled but it was pronounced "Say Quan"), Tyrell, Monkeisha (an a host of keisha variations), Pithaney, and Jermajesty (of Jermanie Jackson fame). My name is considered "white" by comparsion, but its a popular boy name that has been popular for numerous years.

[Try the truth]

10:47 AM on 05/08/2010

As soon as you say your black, we know your not! I too have an issue with unfortunate names, but I also know it's not the majority. Maybe you should go down south, many times these misspelled and unfortunate names fall on children of all races. Would you mind explaining what a "white" name is? Just asking.

[semoto]

11:40 AM on 05/08/2010

Just wondering how you KNOW a self-identified black person isn't black (with an exclamation point). Based on what evidence?

And you're a moderator?

[Ajegunle]

02:54 PM on 05/08/2010

Correct. We don't feel the need to say we are Black; one can readily descern that. Just like we can easily descern that you are White if you think the Arizona Immigration law is justified. Only an "entitled" White American would think so.

[Freesia2]

02:41 PM on 05/08/2010

Well I don't know that they're constructed out of ignorance, but more in the nature of wanting to give their child something unique and special and after awhile it can get a little unpronounceable.

But the black community doesn't have the corner on the market. I'm from the south (I'm white) and there's this trend to take traditional names and ...decorate! So you end up with Natisha Bethannalee or Lorindasue Diannabelle. :-) Makes one long for the days of Peggy Sue and Billy Bob.

I wonder about the poor teachers at roll call. Or better yet in years come to come when they look up their old teachers. "Hi. Remember me? I'm Monkeisha Cuequan. I married Lorindasue Diannabelle? This is our baby Tyrellaney Natishalou." Christmas cards mean carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Manhattanite]

09:25 PM on 05/07/2010

Malia is a lovely name. So is Sasha.

[meleager]

09:11 AM on 05/08/2010

Malia means "mother is great'' and Sasha is "duly graceful" The boy equivalent is Lasha meaning "noble protector"

[PC Contrarian]

12:25 PM on 05/08/2010

There are a lot of African languages and dialects.
Are their names from a particular tribe in Kenya?

[Deming McKenzie]

06:52 PM on 05/09/2010

Sasha is a boy's nickname in Russia for "Alexander"... it conjures up mystery 007 types, not Africans

[Michelle Kruse]

08:39 PM on 05/07/2010

As a name trend follower for as long as I can remember...DUH!!! When the Clintons were in office Chelsea leaped high from nowhere to everywhere. Even people who hated the Clintons had a Chelsea. Caroline was very popular in the 60's and Amy in the 70's. It is not so much what well known people are named, it's what they name their kids that is makes names popular. I don't see Barack or Michelle gaining in numbers.

[AppleJuiceJunkie316]

09:33 AM on 05/08/2010

I couldn't name my child Barack. Its too, Mr. First Black President. Michelle is a popular girl name and it has a reason to be. It's nice.

[IslandGyal]

04:52 PM on 05/08/2010

Michelle is too boring for me. That's my sister's name. I guess it was popular in the 60's when she was born. If I had a boy, I would name him Barack, in honor of the first Black president.

[Professor MoFo]

08:29 PM on 05/07/2010

Cute name for a cute kid.

Cute dog too, but they should have named him 'MoFo'.

LOL.

[neesy08]

08:26 PM on 05/07/2010

i like their names. distinctive, original. unlike sarah, nicole or brittany

[hockeyfanphx]

08:21 PM on 05/07/2010

"Maliyah" must be a hybrid of Malia and Aaliyah (RIP). Both pretty names.