Malcolm
Boy name · #272 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Malcolm? In official American birth records, Malcolm has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Malcolm ranks #272 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,257 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #421, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,432 boys born in 2025 was named Malcolm.
The 145-year story
Malcolm first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 18 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 1,495 boys were named Malcolm — good for #206 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Malcolm per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malcolm against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malcolm in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malcolm is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Malcolm is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malcolm is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Malcolm is most common in ME (4.2 per 1,000), NH (2.7 per 1,000), OR (1.9 per 1,000), IA (1.7 per 1,000), WA (1.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Malcolm is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Malcolm
Statistically, parents drawn to Malcolm tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Desmond, Forrest, Clayton, Marcus, and Morgan.
DesmondForrestClaytonMarcusMorganJavierVictorFrancisco
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malcolm | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,257 | #272 |
| 2024 | 1,093 | #314 |
| 2023 | 1,131 | #293 |
| 2022 | 1,220 | #283 |
| 2021 | 1,230 | #281 |
| 2020 | 1,170 | #290 |
| 2019 | 1,022 | #327 |
| 2018 | 806 | #393 |
| 2017 | 814 | #392 |
| 2016 | 784 | #408 |
| 2015 | 741 | #421 |
| 2014 | 682 | #442 |
| 2013 | 650 | #442 |
| 2012 | 585 | #467 |
| 2011 | 525 | #497 |
| 2010 | 496 | #521 |
| 2009 | 432 | #599 |
| 2008 | 482 | #545 |
| 2007 | 453 | #568 |
| 2006 | 468 | #541 |
| 2005 | 448 | #540 |
| 2004 | 444 | #533 |
| 2003 | 507 | #487 |
| 2002 | 582 | #426 |
| 2001 | 614 | #408 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malcolm?
In official American birth records, the name Malcolm first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 18 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Malcolm a popular boy name?
Malcolm ranked #272 among boys in 2025 with 1,257 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #421.
When was the name Malcolm most popular?
Malcolm peaked in 1992, when 1,495 American boys received the name (ranked #206 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malcolm?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,432 newborn American boys was named Malcolm. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.