Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Malcom isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Malcom through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,864
- 5,864 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1992
- 186 babies
- 2025
- 91
- #1,775 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +51%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 91 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,775 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 50.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 186 in 1992. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,831 as a first name in 2020; 3,533 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Malcom
- MalcomBrazilian association football playerborn 1997
- Mal EvansEnglish road manager (1935–1976)
- Malcom BokeleCameroonian and French footballerborn 2000
- Malcom EdjoumaMoroccan and French footballerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Malcom, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Marquis
“a lord of the borderlands; a nobleman”
>99% boys
Markus
“dedicated to Mars, the god of war”
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Akeem
“God will judge” · “one who is wise; intelligent”
>99% boys
Mathew
“gift of God” · “a gift from God”
>99% boys
Mykel
“who is like God?”
94% boys · 6% girls
Mikel
“who is like God?”
99% boys · 1% girls
Malik
“the sovereign”
>99% boys
Hakeem
“one who is wise; intelligent”
>99% boys