Malik

Malik - A very unique male name

Malik appeared on the charts for the first time in 1965 on position #1499. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Malik and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Malik? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Malik. The baby boy name Malik was given to 701 baby boys in 2025, ranking #435 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 2,092 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Malik peaked in popularity 30 years ago in 1996 on position 97.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Malik, 1-5?

Malik is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Malik is currently topping the baby name charts in Maryland at position #229 - and is the least popular in South Carolina at position #826.

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 Malik is where you live.

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Malik origin and meaning

Arabic

From Arabic malik, 'king, master, owner' — one of the names of God in Islam (al-Malik)

Malik entered U.S. use in the 1960s and surged in the 1990s, peaking in 1996, in both Muslim families and the wider Black American naming tradition that embraced it. It has eased since to #435 but remains well established.

Attested etymology

Malik is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Malik, pop culture references for the name Malik and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Malik

We've found the following names that sound similar to Malik, sorted by popularity.

Miles / Malachi / Myles / Malakai / Malaki / Malakhi / Malek / Melissa / Malique / Malikai /

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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)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Malik

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 Malik 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 Malik?

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.

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Pronunciation

muh-LEEK · /məˈlik/
muh-LEEK is most common in the U.S.; MAH-lik, closer to the Arabic, is also heard.

Around the world

• Malik (Arabic) — Original Arabic form
• Malek (Arabic) — Transliteration variant

Spellings and nicknames

• Malek — Transliteration variant
• Maleek — Respelling

Famous bearers

• Malik Yoba — Actor known for New York Undercover (b. 1967) Contemporary

Style

InternationalRoyal

Why parents choose it

A strong, meaningful name with royal 'king' significance and cross-community familiarity.

Worth knowing

• Pronunciation and spelling vary (Malik/Malek/Maleek), and some will know it mainly as a surname. Note: Zayn Malik removed — surname only, replaced below.