ðə nˈeɪm ʌvðə ɹˈiːdʒən ɪz dᵻɹˈaɪvd fɹʌmðə mælˈɑːvəz, ɐn ˈeɪntʃənt ˈɪndɪk tɹˈaɪb wˌɪtʃ ɪnhˈæbɪɾᵻd ðɪ ˈɛɹiə ɪn æntˈɪkwᵻɾi.
The name of the region is derived from the Malavas, an ancient Indic tribe which inhabited the area in antiquity.