Perhaps bitter or rebellious; often a modern variant of Malia.
Maleiah is a modern American spelling variant of the Hawaiian name Malia, which is the local form of Mary. As a derivative of Mary, it shares the traditional Hebrew roots meaning 'bitter' or 'rebellious,' though many modern parents choose it for its soft, melodic sound and connection to the sea.
Less common today
Maleiah isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #5,522 in 2009.
US births per 5-year period, 1990βpresent (SSA data).