Malalai
Malalai is a Muslim girl name of Pashto (Afghanistan) origin, meaning “Grief-stricken; an Afghan heroine”.
| Meaning | Grief-stricken; an Afghan heroine |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Pashto (Afghanistan) |
| Written as | ملالۍ |
| Pronunciation | mah-lah-LAI |
| Tradition | Muslim |
| Used in | Afghanistan, Pakistan |
Meaning and origin of Malalai
Malalai is a Pashto name, usually understood to mean sorrowful or grief-stricken. Its fame comes from Malalai of Maiwand, a young woman who stirred Afghan warriors to fight on when the Battle of Maiwand was fought in 1880, and she was afterwards celebrated as a national heroine. Malala is a shorter form of the same name, and Malala Yousafzai was named in her honour.
Is Malalai a Muslim name?
Malalai is Pashto rather than Arabic, yet Muslim families, particularly Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, honour it because of the heroine Malalai of Maiwand.
How popular is Malalai?
Common among Pashtun families in Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Gifts with the name Malalai
- Malalai name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Malalai baby gifts (Amazon)
- Muslim baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Malalai
Names similar to Malalai
More Muslim girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Malalai mean?
Malalai means 'Grief-stricken; an Afghan heroine'. It is of Pashto (Afghanistan) origin.
Is Malalai a Muslim name?
Malalai is Pashto rather than Arabic, yet Muslim families, particularly Pashtuns in Afghanistan and Pakistan, honour it because of the heroine Malalai of Maiwand.
How do you pronounce Malalai?
Malalai is pronounced mah-lah-LAI.
Is Malalai a boy or girl name?
Malalai is usually a girl name.