As the two Malé Atolls are the main islands of the administrative district, the entire Kaafu Atoll administrative division is officially named Malé Atoll or Malé Atolhu in the Dhivehi language.

Although Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and the adjacent islands of Vilingili, Hulhule and Hulhumalé, are geographically part of the North Malé Atoll, they do not form part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are a separate administrative division.

Kaafu is a code letter of the Thaana alphabet used in the Dhivehi language assigned to one of the administrative divisions of the Maldives which is officially and traditionally known by the name Malé Atoll.

These administrative divisions may consist of part of, a single or several natural atolls.

Although Malé, Hulhulé, Hulhumalé and Vilimalé are geographically part of North Malé Atoll, they are not part of the Kaafu Atoll administrative division and are part of the separate Malé City administrative division.