Message: "Malaika" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Malaika

by Chanel

11/8/2008, 8:51 PM

Met somebody with this name today, and I was struck by how beautiful it sounded. It is Swahili for angel. It is pronounced muh-LAY-kuh.
WDYT? Would Beatrix and Malaika be pretty together for sisters or weird? What about using it as a middle name for Beatrix (Beatrix Malaika)? Any combo ideas? I tend to like fairly old-fashioned names...

#Malaika

This message was edited 11/8/2008, 8:51 PM

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- Marija Luminitsa

11/9/2008, 10:42 PM

I love Malaika, but I have only heard it pronounced mah-LIE-kah. I suggested it when my former roommate's sister had a baby and they were trying to come up with a name. Malaika is Arabic. I love Beatrix too, but they do sound rather odd together as sisters.

- CB (CB_DK)

11/9/2008, 5:23 AM

My best childhood friend was named Malaika and she pronounced it Muh-LIE-kuh. Her brothers were Tobias and Sebastian.

Malaika is not a name I would use and were it not for the association with my friend I don't think I would like it.

That being said; I think Beatrix Malaika is a nice combo. Beatrix is just stunning, by the way.

- Julia (JuliaF)

11/8/2008, 9:37 PM

Hmm, I've known three Malaikas (yeah, I thought it was weird too) and they've all said muh-LIE-kah. I prefer that pronuciation, but I don't know anyone who speaks Swahili to find out which one is correct.

Anyway, I like Malaika a lot but nowdays it would be seen as tryndeigh and a screw-up of Michaela / Mikayla / Makayla / ad nauseam. Beatrix Malaika is a nice combo, though.

- Lizzie_Jay

11/8/2008, 9:02 PM

It's a bit odd sounding. I prefer Marijke, which was the name of a friend from high school. She pronounced it as Ma-RAY-kuh.

No idea if it's legit, but if it is it would be dutch.

This message was edited 11/8/2008, 9:03 PM

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