Boy · Sanskrit (Bengali and Odia usage) · Hindu
Malay
मलयSay it MUL-ay
- Meaning today
- A mountain, sandalwood, fragrant
- Original meaning
- "the Malaya hills of the Western Ghats, rich in sandalwood" Monier-Williams, p. 792
- Say it
- MUL-ay
- Written
- मलय
- Other spellings
- Malaya, Moloy
Malay
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Malay meaning
Malay (मलय) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin (Bengali and Odia usage).
The Malaya hills of the Western Ghats, rich in sandalwood
Also used to mean: a mountain, fragrant
Malay (मलय) is Sanskrit malaya, the name of the hill range of the southern Western Ghats. Monier-Williams describes it as the mountain range west of Malabar, abounding in sandal trees, and also records it as a name of Malabar itself and of a celestial grove. In Sanskrit and Bengali poetry the breeze from these hills is the fragrant south wind of spring, which is why name lists give the meaning as "a mountain", "sandalwood" or "fragrant". The name is used mainly in Bengal and Odisha, where it is often written Moloy. It has no link with the English word for the Malay people.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 792 · entry malaya · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, malaya, p. 792 · Wikipedia, Malay Roy Choudhury
Famous namesakes
- Malay Roy Choudhury, Bengali poet of the Hungry generation
Fits your syllable
First sound म
Magha nakshatra, pada 1 · Simha rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is मा, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Malay · Malaya · Moloy