Malachi
Boy name · #134 in 2025 · Well-known
In 2025, 2,692 baby boys were named Malachi, placing it at #134 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #158, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 669 boys born in 2025 was named Malachi.
The 145-year story
Malachi first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 2,776 boys were named Malachi — good for #150 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 Malachi per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malachi against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malachi in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malachi is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Malachi is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malachi is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Malachi is most common in MS (3 per 1,000), AL (3 per 1,000), GA (2.9 per 1,000), LA (2.7 per 1,000), MT (2.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Malachi is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Malachi
Statistically, parents drawn to Malachi tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Giovanni, Jonah, Maxwell, Xavier, and Landon.
GiovanniJonahMaxwellXavierLandonMaximusAshtonBraxton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malachi | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,692 | #134 |
| 2024 | 2,424 | #149 |
| 2023 | 2,482 | #146 |
| 2022 | 2,307 | #161 |
| 2021 | 2,324 | #167 |
| 2020 | 2,402 | #156 |
| 2019 | 2,454 | #160 |
| 2018 | 2,514 | #154 |
| 2017 | 2,549 | #153 |
| 2016 | 2,634 | #154 |
| 2015 | 2,602 | #158 |
| 2014 | 2,400 | #178 |
| 2013 | 2,337 | #174 |
| 2012 | 2,329 | #167 |
| 2011 | 2,353 | #163 |
| 2010 | 2,416 | #161 |
| 2009 | 2,352 | #166 |
| 2008 | 2,459 | #160 |
| 2007 | 2,710 | #155 |
| 2006 | 2,776 | #150 |
| 2005 | 2,553 | #162 |
| 2004 | 2,246 | #179 |
| 2003 | 1,919 | #194 |
| 2002 | 1,673 | #210 |
| 2001 | 1,325 | #252 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malachi a popular boy name?
Malachi ranked #134 among boys in 2025 with 2,692 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #158.
When was the name Malachi most popular?
Malachi peaked in 2006, when 2,776 American boys received the name (ranked #150 that year). Since 2006 the name has recovered some ground.
How rare is the name Malachi?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 669 newborn American boys was named Malachi. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.