From Proto-Balto-Slavic*maldas, from Proto-Indo-European*(h₂)moldos(“soft, weak”). Cognates include Old Church Slavonic младъ(mladŭ, “young”), Latin mollis(“soft, weak”), Sanskrit मृदु(mṛdú, “soft, mild, weak”), Ancient Greek βλαδύς(bladús, “weak”) and ἀμαλδύνω(amaldúnō, “to weaken, destroy”).