Mala is a feminine name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "necklace" or "garland." It is most commonly used in Hindi-speaking communities, as well as in other languages and cultures influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The name evokes imagery of a japa mala, a string of prayer beads used for meditation and mantra recitation, which makes it spiritually significant. Mala is also a surname in some cultures — in Poland, Mała is the feminine form of the nickname Mały ("small one"), while in Spanish-speaking contexts, Mala may derive from a topographic name related to a cave or other geographical feature.