Mahalia \ma-halia, maha-lia\ as a girl's name is pronounced ma-HAL-yah, ma-HAYL-yah. It is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Mahalia is "tender one". Also possibly from an Aramaic name meaning "marrow". Biblical name that was well used in the 19th century. Singer Mahalia Jackson.
Mahalia has 9 variant forms: Mahala, Mahalah, Mahalath, Mahali, Mahalee, Mahaliah, Mahalla, Mahelia and Mehalia.