Is Malcolm a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Malcolm is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Malcolm?

It’s currently ranked #297 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Malcolm?

MAL-kum · IPA: //ˈmæl.kəm//

Malcolm Boy

Popularity: #297 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationMAL-kum / /ˈmæl.kəm/

Scottish; Gaelic

Meaning

Scottish: devotee of Saint Columba; Gaelic: servant of the church

Historical & Cultural Background

Malcolm is a name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic name 'Maolmhuire,' meaning 'devotee of Saint Columba.' It has been borne by several Scottish kings, notably Malcolm III, who ruled in the 11th century. The name has also been popularized in literature and media, contributing to its enduring presence in various cultures.

Trend Summary

Malcolm has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., with a notable resurgence in recent years.

Variants

Malcom
Mal
Mac

International Variants

Malcolm (English)
Malcolmo (Spanish)

Famous people named Malcolm

Malcolm X was a prominent African American civil rights activist known for his advocacy for the rights of Black Americans.

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian journalist and author recognized for his books on social science and psychology.

Malcolm McDowell is an English actor best known for his role in the film 'A Clockwork Orange.'.

Malcolm in the Middle is a popular American television series that features a boy named Malcolm as the main character.

Fictional characters named Malcolm

Malcolm Reynolds is the captain of the spaceship Serenity in the television series 'Firefly.'.

Malcolm Crowe is a child psychologist in the film 'The Sixth Sense,' who helps a young boy with a unique ability.

Sibling Suggestions

Alistair Fergus Ewan Graham Angus Lachlan

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Malcolm was first seen in the United States in 1880. Malcolm has ranked as high as #389 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. In the past 5 years the name Malcolm has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Malcolm (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	87	9%
CA	83	8%
OH	60	6%
NY	58	6%
PA	48	5%
MI	43	4%
IL	42	4%
WA	41	4%
VA	36	4%
MA	33	3%
FL	33	3%
GA	32	3%
MN	32	3%
WI	32	3%
AZ	31	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	18
1881	17
1882	20
1883	23
1884	18
1885	14
1886	25
1887	21
1888	26
1889	27
1890	27
1891	31
1892	30
1893	27
1894	34
1895	33
1896	48
1897	30
1898	40
1899	35
1900	55
1901	35
1902	52
1903	48
1904	46
1905	65
1906	48
1907	54
1908	78
1909	83
1910	86
1911	140
1912	233
1913	288
1914	317
1915	464
1916	476
1917	544
1918	508
1919	499
1920	556
1921	599
1922	548
1923	623
1924	639
1925	618
1926	629
1927	613
1928	666
1929	597
1930	558
1931	584
1932	572
1933	525
1934	499
1935	545
1936	531
1937	502
1938	542
1939	522
1940	548
1941	497
1942	577
1943	673
1944	549
1945	511
1946	626
1947	630
1948	549
1949	520
1950	540
1951	588
1952	602
1953	546
1954	597
1955	593
1956	569
1957	562
1958	603
1959	501
1960	545
1961	525
1962	520
1963	485
1964	472
1965	614
1966	453
1967	430
1968	421
1969	441
1970	537
1971	518
1972	450
1973	390
1974	337
1975	367
1976	338
1977	326
1978	296
1979	290
1980	261
1981	275
1982	300
1983	222
1984	279
1985	386
1986	528
1987	633
1988	740
1989	905
1990	1,158
1991	1,299
1992	1,495
1993	1,224
1994	979
1995	887
1996	841
1997	766
1998	702
1999	712
2000	715
2001	614
2002	582
2003	507
2004	444
2005	448
2006	468
2007	453
2008	482
2009	432
2010	496
2011	524
2012	585
2013	649
2014	682
2015	741
2016	784
2017	814
2018	804
2019	1,022
2020	1,170
2021	1,228
2022	1,219
2023	1,131
2024	1,088