What does Dua mean?
Dua (دعاء, du'a') means 'prayer, supplication, invocation', from the Arabic root d-'-w. In Islamic practice du'a refers specifically to personal prayer or calling upon God.
What does Malak mean?
Malak means “angel” in Arabic.
Dua vs Malak
Which is more popular?
Malak is more popular than Dua today: about 137 US babies were given the name Malak in 2025, compared with 0 named Dua.
| Dua | Malak | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Prayer, supplication | Angel |
| Origin | arabic | Arabic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | doo-AH | MAL-ak |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1983 |
| Peak year | 2025 (231) | 2011 (210) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 137 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Dua
Malak
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Dua | Malak |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 889 | 760 |
| 2010s | 410 | 1,706 |
| 2000s | 164 | 1,146 |
| 1990s | 22 | 255 |
| 1980s | 0 | 27 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dua or Malak more popular?
Malak is more popular than Dua today: about 137 US babies were given the name Malak in 2025, compared with 0 named Dua.
What is the difference between Dua and Malak?
Dua means Prayer, supplication (arabic origin), while Malak means Angel (Arabic origin).
Which name is older, Dua or Malak?
In US records, Dua first appears in 0 and Malak in 1983, so Dua has the longer recorded history.