Malachi
Boy name · #134 in 2025 · Uniqueness 40/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malachi against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malachi in class?
Malachi scores 40 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Malachi is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malachi is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Malachis were TX (303), CA (229), FL (210), GA (148), NC (130). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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. It scores 40/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.