It derives from the Semitic word for "angel".
(Arabic: ملاك, malāk; Hebrew מַלְאָךְ; Ge'ez መልዐክ, mal`āk; Aramaic מלאך).
The plural of malak ("angels") is ملائكه malaa`ikahם malakim in Hebrew, and መላዕክት mala`ikt in Ge'ez.
In Arabic and Turkish, it is also used as a given name (both male and female).
The Turkish form of the name is Melek.