Malaia sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Malaya, Malia, and Alaia are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malaia's Hawaiian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"calm, peaceful"
"great queen, divine queen"
"little love, sweetheart"
"noble"
"glowing; warm fire remnant"
"princess, noblewoman"
"one who gains what she seeks"
"born on Monday (Hausa day-name)"
"helpful, descendant of the helpful one"
"beam of light"
"unique, invented variant (X spelling)"
"heart, noble spirit"
"resonant, pleasing sound"
"My father is joyful; father of exultation"
"blend of Jessica and Lynn"
"meadow where eagles dwell"
"walking with a proud gait (via Arabic Maisa)"
"peace"
"slender, fair"
"gentle, wellborn"
"whole, universal"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malaia — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hawaiian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malaia.
Rhythm: Malaia is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.