Malcolm Boy

Popularity: #260 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAL-kum //ˈmæl.kəm//

Origin: Scottish; Gaelic

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

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Malcolm has its roots in the Gaelic name "Maolmhuire," which translates to "devotee of Mary." This name is composed of two elements: "maol," meaning "devotee" or "follower," and "Mhuire," which is a form of "Mary." The name evolved through various forms, including the Old Irish "Maolmhuire," before being adopted into the Scots language as "Malcolm." The transition into English occurred during the medieval period, particularly as the name became associated with Scottish royalty and nobility. Historically, the name Malcolm is notably linked to Malcolm III of Scotland, who reigned from 1058 to 1093.

He was a significant figure in Scottish history, known for his efforts to consolidate power and for his marriage to Margaret of Wessex, who was later canonized as Saint Margaret. This union brought about a cultural and religious transformation in Scotland, aligning it more closely with the practices of the English church.

The name Malcolm also appears in various historical texts and chronicles, including the works of chroniclers such as John of Fordun in the 14th century, who documented the history of Scotland. Culturally, the name Malcolm has resonated through literature and the arts, most famously in Shakespeare's "Macbeth," where Malcolm is the son of Duncan and represents rightful kingship.

This association with themes of legitimacy and moral authority has contributed to the name's enduring significance. Additionally, the name has been borne by various saints and notable figures throughout history, reinforcing its positive connotations.

The diminutive form "Mal" has also emerged in various contexts, though its usage is less formal. Overall, the name Malcolm carries a rich historical and cultural legacy, reflecting its Gaelic origins and its prominent role in Scottish heritage.

Famous people named Malcolm

In this section, you will find notable people named Malcolm. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Malcolm who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Malcolm who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Malcolm X was a civil rights activist best known for The Autobiography of Malcolm X, his role in the Nation of Islam, and his advocacy for Black empowerment.

Malcolm Gladwell is an author and journalist best known for The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers.

Malcolm McDowell is an actor best known for A Clockwork Orange, Caligula, and The Clockwork Orange.

Malcolm in the Middle is a television series best known for its portrayal of a dysfunctional family and its unique comedic style.

Fictional characters named Malcolm

The following list of fictional characters named Malcolm is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Malcolm Reynolds is a fictional character from the TV series Firefly. He is the captain of the spaceship Serenity and leads a crew of outlaws in a post-war universe.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Malcolm, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AlistairFergusEwanGrahamAngusLachlan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Malcolm. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MasonMalikMarcusMatthewMaxwellMiloMartinMarshall

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Malcolm was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Malcolm has ranked as high as #405 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)

The name Malcolm is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Malcolm was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Malcolm.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,257 1,257 0
2024 1,093 1,093 0
2023 1,131 1,131 0
2022 1,220 1,220 0
2021 1,230 1,230 0
2020 1,170 1,170 0
2019 1,022 1,022 0
2018 806 806 0
2017 814 814 0
2016 784 784 0
2015 741 741 0
2014 682 682 0
2013 650 650 0
2012 585 585 0
2011 525 525 0
2010 496 496 0
2009 432 432 0
2008 482 482 0
2007 453 453 0
2006 468 468 0
2005 448 448 0
2004 444 444 0
2003 507 507 0
2002 582 582 0
2001 614 614 0
2000 715 715 0
1999 712 712 0
1998 702 702 0
1997 766 766 0
1996 841 841 0
1995 887 887 0
1994 979 979 0
1993 1,225 1,225 0
1992 1,495 1,495 0
1991 1,306 1,299 7
1990 1,163 1,158 5
1989 905 905 0
1988 751 740 11
1987 638 633 5
1986 536 528 8
1985 386 386 0
1984 279 279 0
1983 221 221 0
1982 299 299 0
1981 275 275 0
1980 261 261 0
1979 295 290 5
1978 296 296 0
1977 325 325 0
1976 338 338 0
1975 367 367 0
1974 337 337 0
1973 395 390 5
1972 456 450 6
1971 525 518 7
1970 542 537 5
1969 441 441 0
1968 421 421 0
1967 430 430 0
1966 453 453 0
1965 614 614 0
1964 471 471 0
1963 485 485 0
1962 520 520 0
1961 526 526 0
1960 546 546 0
1959 500 500 0
1958 603 603 0
1957 562 562 0
1956 569 569 0
1955 593 593 0
1954 597 597 0
1953 551 546 5
1952 602 602 0
1951 593 588 5
1950 540 540 0
1949 520 520 0
1948 549 549 0
1947 630 630 0
1946 626 626 0
1945 511 511 0
1944 549 549 0
1943 679 674 5
1942 577 577 0
1941 497 497 0
1940 548 548 0
1939 522 522 0
1938 542 542 0
1937 502 502 0
1936 531 531 0
1935 545 545 0
1934 499 499 0
1933 525 525 0
1932 572 572 0
1931 589 584 5
1930 558 558 0
1929 604 597 7
1928 666 666 0
1927 622 613 9
1926 629 629 0
1925 627 618 9
1924 639 639 0
1923 623 623 0
1922 548 548 0
1921 599 599 0
1920 556 556 0
1919 504 499 5
1918 508 508 0
1917 544 544 0
1916 476 476 0
1915 464 464 0
1914 317 317 0
1913 293 288 5
1912 233 233 0
1911 140 140 0
1910 86 86 0
1909 83 83 0
1908 78 78 0
1907 54 54 0
1906 48 48 0
1905 65 65 0
1904 46 46 0
1903 48 48 0
1902 52 52 0
1901 35 35 0
1900 55 55 0
1899 35 35 0
1898 40 40 0
1897 30 30 0
1896 48 48 0
1895 33 33 0
1894 34 34 0
1893 27 27 0
1892 30 30 0
1891 31 31 0
1890 27 27 0
1889 27 27 0
1888 26 26 0
1887 21 21 0
1886 25 25 0
1885 14 14 0
1884 18 18 0
1883 23 23 0
1882 20 20 0
1881 17 17 0
1880 18 18 0

Top States for Malcolm (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 87
8%
CA 83
8%
OH 60
6%
NY 58
5%
PA 48
4%
MI 43
4%
IL 42
4%
WA 41
4%
VA 36
3%
FL 33
3%
MA 33
3%
MN 32
3%
WI 32
3%
GA 32
3%
CO 31
3%
AZ 31
3%
NC 30
3%
TN 28
3%
MO 25
2%
NJ 19
2%
IN 19
2%
KS 19
2%
OR 19
2%
MD 17
2%
ME 16
1%
ID 15
1%
KY 15
1%
IA 11
1%
NE 11
1%
NH 11
1%
CT 11
1%
UT 11
1%
LA 9
1%
NV 8
1%
SC 7
1%
DE 7
1%
OK 6
1%
MS 6
1%
MT 6
1%
AL 5
0%
DC 5
0%
RI 5
0%
WV 5
0%