Malcolm - A very unique male name
Malcolm at a glance
Malcolm is ranked #270 among boy baby names in 2025, with 1,246 births in 2025. It peaked in 1928 at #204 and first appeared on the charts in 1910.
- Rank in 2025
- #270
- Births in 2025
- 1,246
- Peak year
- 1928 (#204)
- First appeared
- 1910
- Trend
- #291 in 2020 → #270 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 1,177 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.5/5 (4 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 1,177 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Malcolm peaked in popularity 98 years ago in 1928 on position 204.
Famous with this name
Malcolm McDowell
Malcolm Goodwin
Robyn Malcolm
How would you rate Malcolm, 1-5?
Malcolm is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Malcolm is currently topping the baby name charts in Maine at position #80 - and is the least popular in Louisiana at position #517.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Malcolm is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Malcolm origin and meaning
Scottish Gaelic
'Devotee of Saint Columba' — from Máel Coluim, 'tonsured servant of Columba'
Malcolm comes from the Scottish Gaelic name of several medieval kings, built on the name of Saint Columba, the missionary who brought Christianity to Scotland. Malcolm X gave the name a second, very different resonance in the 20th century. It peaked in the US in 1992 and is edging back up.
Attested etymology
Malcolm is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Malcolm, pop culture references for the name Malcolm and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Malcolm
We've found the following names that sound similar to Malcolm, sorted by popularity.
Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 270 |
| 2024 | 311 |
| 2023 | 296 |
| 2022 | 282 |
| 2021 | 282 |
| 2020 | 291 |
| 2019 | 325 |
| 2018 | 390 |
| 2017 | 394 |
| 2016 | 408 |
| 2015 | 422 |
| 2014 | 439 |
| 2013 | 447 |
| 2012 | 463 |
| 2011 | 493 |
| 2010 | 531 |
| 2009 | 601 |
| 2008 | 551 |
| 2007 | 570 |
| 2006 | 534 |
| 2005 | 532 |
| 2004 | 535 |
| 2003 | 490 |
| 2002 | 418 |
| 2001 | 408 |
| 2000 | 368 |
| 1999 | 366 |
| 1998 | 366 |
| 1997 | 338 |
| 1996 | 315 |
| 1995 | 298 |
| 1994 | 279 |
| 1993 | 239 |
| 1992 | 207 |
| 1991 | 228 |
| 1990 | 242 |
| 1989 | 269 |
| 1988 | 307 |
| 1987 | 328 |
| 1986 | 355 |
| 1985 | 441 |
| 1984 | 518 |
| 1983 | 580 |
| 1982 | 492 |
| 1981 | 513 |
| 1980 | 522 |
| 1979 | 471 |
| 1978 | 471 |
| 1977 | 434 |
| 1976 | 425 |
| 1975 | 399 |
| 1974 | 418 |
| 1973 | 388 |
| 1972 | 371 |
| 1971 | 354 |
| 1970 | 343 |
| 1969 | 374 |
| 1968 | 376 |
| 1967 | 361 |
| 1966 | 357 |
| 1965 | 303 |
| 1964 | 359 |
| 1963 | 350 |
| 1962 | 338 |
| 1961 | 344 |
| 1960 | 337 |
| 1959 | 350 |
| 1958 | 308 |
| 1957 | 325 |
| 1956 | 312 |
| 1955 | 296 |
| 1954 | 293 |
| 1953 | 309 |
| 1952 | 284 |
| 1951 | 281 |
| 1950 | 293 |
| 1949 | 302 |
| 1948 | 294 |
| 1947 | 269 |
| 1946 | 244 |
| 1945 | 259 |
| 1944 | 245 |
| 1943 | 217 |
| 1942 | 236 |
| 1941 | 251 |
| 1940 | 228 |
| 1939 | 225 |
| 1938 | 224 |
| 1937 | 235 |
| 1936 | 216 |
| 1935 | 221 |
| 1934 | 231 |
| 1933 | 221 |
| 1932 | 216 |
| 1931 | 221 |
| 1930 | 228 |
| 1929 | 213 |
| 1928 | 204 |
| 1927 | 223 |
| 1926 | 215 |
| 1925 | 219 |
| 1924 | 210 |
| 1923 | 208 |
| 1922 | 238 |
| 1921 | 227 |
| 1920 | 225 |
| 1919 | 239 |
| 1918 | 240 |
| 1917 | 205 |
| 1916 | 223 |
| 1915 | 223 |
| 1914 | 245 |
| 1913 | 222 |
| 1912 | 229 |
| 1911 | 223 |
| 1910 | 283 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Maine | 80 |
| New Hampshire | 125 |
| Rhode Island | 152 |
| Oregon | 152 |
| Washington | 173 |
| Alaska | 184 |
| Iowa | 184 |
| Massachusetts | 187 |
| Pennsylvania | 190 |
| District of Columbia | 191 |
| Kansas | 193 |
| Indiana | 198 |
| Minnesota | 206 |
| Colorado | 213 |
| Utah | 218 |
| Montana | 219 |
| Illinois | 224 |
| Ohio | 226 |
| Wisconsin | 229 |
| Michigan | 232 |
| Kentucky | 242 |
| Idaho | 245 |
| South Dakota | 248 |
| North Dakota | 250 |
| Nevada | 258 |
| Connecticut | 260 |
| Virginia | 273 |
| Missouri | 277 |
| Maryland | 279 |
| Nebraska | 282 |
| New Mexico | 293 |
| Arizona | 303 |
| North Carolina | 313 |
| Georgia | 317 |
| California | 318 |
| New Jersey | 319 |
| New York | 331 |
| Tennessee | 342 |
| West Virginia | 357 |
| South Carolina | 363 |
| Oklahoma | 368 |
| Arkansas | 428 |
| Alabama | 439 |
| Texas | 490 |
| Florida | 497 |
| Louisiana | 517 |
Even more about Malcolm
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Malcolm a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Malcolm?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
MAL-kum · /ˈmælkəm/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- Malcom — One-l spelling
Nicknames: MalMac
Famous bearers
- Malcolm X — American civil rights leader and minister, assassinated in 1965 (1925–1965) Historical
- Malcolm Gladwell — Canadian journalist and author of The Tipping Point and Outliers (b. 1963) Contemporary
- Malcolm III of Scotland — King of Scots who overthrew Macbeth's successor and ruled for 35 years (c. 1031–1093) Historical
Style
ClassicRoyal
Why parents choose it
Malcolm offers Scottish royal history and 20th-century cultural weight in a name that feels calm and substantial.
Worth knowing
- The spelling with two l's is standard; the one-l Malcom is often treated as a misspelling.
