US Popularity Rank: None

Origin: Native American

Meaning: tender one

Mahelia is a girl’s name with Hebrew and Native American origins. It is a variant spelling of the name Mahalia, which in turn comes from the name Mahala. In Hebrew, Mahala means “weary,” “weak,” and “sick.” Alternatively, Mahelia is connected to the Native American Mahalia, which means “powerful woman.” Mahalia Jackson is perhaps the most famous bearer of this name. She was a legendary American gospel singer who was immensely popular in the mid-20th century. She became a civil rights activist and performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and before Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Little Mahelia will have this remarkable figure as an inspiration and can always tap into the strong meaning of their name as they learn and grow.