The name comes from the Malay word "Selat Melaka," which translates to "Straits of Malacca". "Melaka" was the name of a powerful Malay kingdom, and the word itself is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "malaya," meaning "mountain," referring to the nearby mountain range.
However, the tiger connection comes from the Malay word "melaka," meaning "tiger". It is thought that the name of the kingdom, and thus the straits, was inspired by this word, possibly due to the presence of tigers in the region.