Malik
Boy name · #437 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Malik? In official American birth records, Malik has been tracked continuously since 1949, giving it 76 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 724 baby boys were named Malik, placing it at #437 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #375, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,486 boys born in 2025 was named Malik.
Babies named Malik per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 76-year story
Malik first appears in the Social Security records in 1949, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1996, when 4,026 boys were named Malik — good for #97 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malik against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malik in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malik 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 Malik is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malik is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Malik is most common in MD (1.1 per 1,000), MI (1 per 1,000), MN (0.8 per 1,000), LA (0.7 per 1,000), IL (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Malik is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Malik
Statistically, parents drawn to Malik tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Chance, Dalton, Collin, Tanner, and Marcos.
ChanceDaltonCollinTannerMarcosMarcoMorganDakota
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malik | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 724 | #437 |
| 2024 | 740 | #428 |
| 2023 | 835 | #383 |
| 2022 | 808 | #394 |
| 2021 | 810 | #392 |
| 2020 | 838 | #373 |
| 2019 | 886 | #363 |
| 2018 | 874 | #373 |
| 2017 | 869 | #378 |
| 2016 | 844 | #382 |
| 2015 | 862 | #375 |
| 2014 | 842 | #372 |
| 2013 | 940 | #341 |
| 2012 | 913 | #340 |
| 2011 | 988 | #322 |
| 2010 | 1,192 | #283 |
| 2009 | 1,359 | #255 |
| 2008 | 1,218 | #280 |
| 2007 | 1,255 | #273 |
| 2006 | 1,191 | #289 |
| 2005 | 1,253 | #265 |
| 2004 | 1,377 | #243 |
| 2003 | 1,506 | #229 |
| 2002 | 1,659 | #211 |
| 2001 | 1,864 | #197 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Malik?
In official American birth records, the name Malik first appeared in 1949 (over 76 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 76 years.
Is Malik a popular boy name?
Malik ranked #437 among boys in 2025 with 724 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #375.
When was the name Malik most popular?
Malik peaked in 1996, when 4,026 American boys received the name (ranked #97 that year). Since 1996 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malik?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,486 newborn American boys was named Malik. 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.