Malcom
Boy name · #1771 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
Malcom ranks #1771 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 91 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2528, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,780 boys born in 2025 was named Malcom.
The 145-year story
Malcom first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1992, when 186 boys were named Malcom — good for #765 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 Malcom per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malcom against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malcom in class?
Malcom scores 66 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 Malcom is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malcom is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Malcoms were CA (7), IA (6), FL (5), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Malcom
Statistically, parents drawn to Malcom tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Raheem, Hakeem, Marquis, Markus, and Marcell.
RaheemHakeemMarquisMarkusMarcellStormNestorCortez
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malcom | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 91 | #1771 |
| 2024 | 95 | #1735 |
| 2023 | 90 | #1787 |
| 2022 | 83 | #1892 |
| 2021 | 74 | #2000 |
| 2020 | 81 | #1833 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1868 |
| 2018 | 48 | #2617 |
| 2017 | 39 | #3006 |
| 2016 | 39 | #2993 |
| 2015 | 49 | #2528 |
| 2014 | 26 | #3891 |
| 2013 | 40 | #2848 |
| 2012 | 44 | #2716 |
| 2011 | 49 | #2504 |
| 2010 | 45 | #2682 |
| 2009 | 30 | #3551 |
| 2008 | 58 | #2265 |
| 2007 | 63 | #2139 |
| 2006 | 59 | #2176 |
| 2005 | 47 | #2433 |
| 2004 | 61 | #1974 |
| 2003 | 50 | #2180 |
| 2002 | 65 | #1772 |
| 2001 | 62 | #1800 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malcom a popular boy name?
Malcom ranked #1771 among boys in 2025 with 91 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2528.
When was the name Malcom most popular?
Malcom peaked in 1992, when 186 American boys received the name (ranked #765 that year). Since 1992 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malcom?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,780 newborn American boys was named Malcom. It scores 66/100 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.