Malaiya sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Malaika, Malaya, and Maliyah are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malaiya's African-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"angel, divine messenger"
"contentment, satisfaction"
"occupational surname for a craftsman"
"from Rome, Roman heritage"
"song, joyful cry of praise"
"sea of bitterness (traditional interpretation)"
"wise protection and gracious"
"white, pure (lily flower blend)"
"successful, beloved"
"fortune, wealth in battle"
"holly tree"
"prosper, flourish"
"modern phonetic spelling of Halo"
"keen warrior enclosure"
"gift, present (secondary meaning)"
"variant of Dora, gift"
"auspicious, blessed"
"wren meadow (compound)"
"daughter of Andrew, brave"
"from Wales, land of the Welsh"
"brave ruler"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malaiya — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Swahili/Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malaiya.
Rhythm: Malaiya is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.