Malcolm
How to say it: MAL-kum · /ˈmælkəm/
From Gaelic 'Maol Coluim' meaning devotee of Saint Columba; Columba means dove in Latin.
Malcolm was the 276th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,257 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 70% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #238 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #276 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,257 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,459 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +70% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #238 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,110 among boys’ names, 20 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Never dropping out of use, Malcolm found its strongest decade in the US in the 2020s. It remains at that high and is likely to keep rising.
What goes with it
With a soft rumble and a strong impression, it moves in two beats. Mac works as a short form, while Graham makes a stylistic match.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Malcolm is about 1 in 103.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Scottish Gaelic.
In France: #1,110 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Malcolm
- Malcolm X (1925–1965)American Black rights activist
- Malcolm McDowell (born 1943)British actor
- Malcolm Turnbull (born 1954)Prime Minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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