Maliah sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Malia, Aaliyah, and Aliyah are the closest matches by sound. Most share Maliah's Hawaiian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"beloved, wished-for child"
"small spring, place of the little spring"
"descendant of the dark challenger"
"region of ancient Israel"
"rock hill, mound"
"dark beauty"
"God is gracious"
"powerful; in a state of bliss"
"creative American coinage"
"modern phonetic invention"
"messenger of the Holy Spirit"
"invented Valyrian fantasy name"
"divine counsel"
"royal valley"
"praise, glorification"
"warrior's estate, Paega's settlement"
"expert, connoisseur"
"free-spirited, blissful"
"famous warrior with brightness"
"noble, honored"
"father's joy, source of joy"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Maliah — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Hebrew via Hawaiian origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Maliah.
Rhythm: Maliah is a 3-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.