Malcom
Boy name · #1771 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Malcom? In official American birth records, Malcom has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Malcom ranks #1771 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 91 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2528, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,780 boys born in 2025 was named Malcom.
The 145-year story
Malcom first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 186 boys were named Malcom — good for #765 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 Malcom per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malcom against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malcom in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malcom is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Malcom will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Malcom is most common
State-level data for Malcom is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Malcom
Statistically, parents drawn to Malcom tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Raheem, Hakeem, Marquis, Markus, and Marcell.
RaheemHakeemMarquisMarkusMarcellStormNestorCortez
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malcom | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 91 | #1771 |
| 2024 | 95 | #1735 |
| 2023 | 90 | #1787 |
| 2022 | 83 | #1892 |
| 2021 | 74 | #2000 |
| 2020 | 81 | #1833 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1868 |
| 2018 | 48 | #2617 |
| 2017 | 39 | #3006 |
| 2016 | 39 | #2993 |
| 2015 | 49 | #2528 |
| 2014 | 26 | #3891 |
| 2013 | 40 | #2848 |
| 2012 | 44 | #2716 |
| 2011 | 49 | #2504 |
| 2010 | 45 | #2682 |
| 2009 | 30 | #3551 |
| 2008 | 58 | #2265 |
| 2007 | 63 | #2139 |
| 2006 | 59 | #2176 |
| 2005 | 47 | #2433 |
| 2004 | 61 | #1974 |
| 2003 | 50 | #2180 |
| 2002 | 65 | #1772 |
| 2001 | 62 | #1800 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malcom?
In official American birth records, the name Malcom first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Malcom a popular boy name?
Malcom ranked #1771 among boys in 2025 with 91 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2528.
When was the name Malcom most popular?
Malcom peaked in 1992, when 186 American boys received the name (ranked #765 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malcom?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,780 newborn American boys was named Malcom. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.