Baby Name Popularity Profile

Malcolm

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Malcolm.

✦ Disciple of Saint Columba 🌍 Celtic traditional royal
National Rank (2025) #272
All-Time Peak Rank #205 Achieved 1928
Total U.S. Births 70,209 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 100.0% Boy / 0.0% Girl Male Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1990s 1,495 births in 1992
πŸ’‘ The Malcolm Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Disciple of Saint Columba
Language Origin Celtic
Origin Type single
Derived from Scottish Gaelic Maol Chaluim, meaning 'disciple of Columba'.
Common Nicknames
Mal Mac
Pronunciation: MAL-kΙ™m
Themes & Categories
traditional royal
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Malcolm

According to SSA data, Malcolm achieved its highest historical rank of #205 in 1928. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1992 with 1,495 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 69.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Malcolm across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift +69.6% Growth
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 1,495 births in 1992
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 134 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 209
1890s: 335
1900s: 564
1910s: 3,555
1920s: 6,088
1930s: 5,380
1940s: 5,681
1950s: 5,700
1960s: 4,907
1970s: 3,848
1980s: 4,527
1990s: 10,064
2000s: 5,145
2010s: 7,105
2020s: 7,101

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Mal-colm
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with M, a letter used by only 7.6% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Malcolm.

πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Maine
Top States Maine, Louisiana, District of Columbia, Mississippi, South Carolina
States with Data 50
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Maine #80 894 1932 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #517 2,902 1965 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #191 690 1991 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi Unranked 1,843 1991 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #363 1,576 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #273 2,431 1990 8.6% Decline
Tennessee #342 2,098 1991 27.8% Decline
Massachusetts #187 2,403 1928 +16.7% Growth
Georgia #317 2,642 1992 +30.0% Growth
Alabama #439 1,732 1992 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #279 1,404 1992 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #313 2,581 1992 Stable
New Hampshire #125 274 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #497 2,719 1992 35.1% Decline
Vermont Unranked 132 1928 Insufficient historical volume
New York #331 5,755 1992 +1.9% Growth
Connecticut #260 790 1942 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #319 1,929 1991 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #173 1,112 2021 +22.0% Growth
Indiana #198 1,570 2023 +10.3% Growth
Kentucky #242 1,143 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #490 4,455 1992 17.9% Decline
Illinois #224 2,805 1993 +23.3% Growth
Oregon #152 505 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #190 2,944 2025 +28.3% Growth
Hawaii Unranked 165 1954 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #232 1,974 2021 +41.9% Growth
Ohio #226 2,320 2023 +18.4% Growth
Arizona #303 601 2021 Insufficient historical volume
California #318 4,695 2021 3.4% Decline
Missouri #277 1,012 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #213 531 2021 +24.0% Growth
Arkansas #428 479 1991 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #229 798 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #258 131 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #218 305 2022 20.0% Decline
Minnesota #206 666 2020 8.6% Decline
Oklahoma #368 476 2023 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #293 161 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #152 104 1929 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #193 297 2025 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #357 252 1937 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 46 1992 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #184 267 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #282 135 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #245 69 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Montana #219 47 2022 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota #250 37 1919 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska #184 15 2022 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #248 23 2020 Insufficient historical volume

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
Brandon Spencer Victor Tyler Dante Casey Alex Cody Antonio Zachary
πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions
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