What does Malika mean?
Arabic 'malika' is the feminine of 'malik', meaning 'queen', from the same Semitic root m-l-k. A literal 'queen' name across the Arabic-speaking world.
What does Farah mean?
Farah means “joy” or “happiness” in Arabic.
Malika vs Farah
Which is more popular?
Farah is more popular than Malika today: about 164 US babies were given the name Farah in 2025, compared with 0 named Malika.
| Malika | Farah | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | queen | Joy, happiness |
| Origin | arabic | Arabic |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | mah-LEE-kah | FAH-rah |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1960 |
| Peak year | 1996 (183) | 2012 (178) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 164 |
| Trend | Vintage | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Malika
Farah
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Malika | Farah |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 459 | 973 |
| 2010s | 729 | 1,580 |
| 2000s | 740 | 1,185 |
| 1990s | 1,377 | 863 |
| 1980s | 813 | 818 |
| 1970s | 819 | 710 |
| 1960s | 30 | 149 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malika or Farah more popular?
Farah is more popular than Malika today: about 164 US babies were given the name Farah in 2025, compared with 0 named Malika.
What is the difference between Malika and Farah?
Malika means queen (arabic origin), while Farah means Joy, happiness (Arabic origin).
Which name is older, Malika or Farah?
In US records, Malika first appears in 0 and Farah in 1960, so Malika has the longer recorded history.