Malaysian netizens excited by American tourist named 'Malaysia'

In the video posted on TikTok on July 1, Malaysia revealed her first trip to the Southeast Asian country and the reason she chose to visit it.

The tourist said she came to visit Malaysia because "it’s my name."

She was clearly thrilled to be there.

"So far, it’s been amazing, and the people here are so kind," she said in the video, adding, "the food is so good and the culture is so welcoming and inviting."

The 35-second video has gone viral on social media with nearly 50,000 views. It is also a part of a series called Pergi Mana Gogogo in which tourists are asked about their travel experiences in Malaysia.

Many netizens have expressed their excitement over her name.

"The name is quite unique and that her parents would have an interesting story behind it," one commenter wrote.

"Her parents gave her the name Malaysia due to their sweet memories associated with the country," another wrote.

"Malaysia is a friendly country. It’s so lucky to welcome you, Malaysia," another commented.

Malaysia is not the only country people are named for.

Ireland, America, India, Jordan, Georgia and Chad have all been used as names, The Straits Times reported.

Since 2011, the name "Malaysia" has consistently been among the top 1,000 most popular names for baby girls in U.S., according to the U.S. Social Security website.

In 2023, the name Malaysia is ranked 776 in terms of popularity in the U.S.

Malaysia recorded nearly 29 million foreign arrivals last year, becoming the most popular destination in Southeast Asia.