Malaiyah sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Maliyah, Aaliyah, and Maliah are the closest matches by sound. Most share Malaiyah's Hebrew/Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"exalted, high, ascending"
"gracious, favored by God"
"bright, shining light"
"full of life"
"honor, compassion"
"son of Matthew, gift of God"
"to leap or jump"
"love"
"heavenly Taylor, sky child"
"leaping water, rushing water"
"word, speech"
"gray settlement"
"word, speech"
"God is my light"
"tailor, cloth-cutter"
"variant of Delilah (night, amorous)"
"lake (from Welsh element -lynn)"
"work, effort"
"pure, clear"
"summit meeting, diplomatic gathering"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Malaiyah — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew/Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Malaiyah.
Rhythm: Malaiyah is a 4-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.