Malena
Girl name · #2257 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
In 2025, 81 baby girls were named Malena, placing it at #2257 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1984, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,222 girls born in 2025 was named Malena.
The 139-year story
Malena first appears in the Social Security records in 1886, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 146 girls were named Malena — good for #1423 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 Malena per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malena in class?
Malena scores 59 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 Malena is most common
Geography matters for names, and Malena is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Malenas were CA (11), TX (11), PA (9), FL (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Malena
Statistically, parents drawn to Malena tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Makena, Meena, Malina, Raena, and Kalena.
MakenaMeenaMalinaRaenaKalenaAzucenaJohanaSabina
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Malena | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 81 | #2256 |
| 2024 | 73 | #2462 |
| 2023 | 70 | #2517 |
| 2022 | 78 | #2364 |
| 2021 | 75 | #2384 |
| 2020 | 59 | #2779 |
| 2019 | 88 | #2128 |
| 2018 | 81 | #2254 |
| 2017 | 89 | #2144 |
| 2016 | 82 | #2308 |
| 2015 | 100 | #1984 |
| 2014 | 110 | #1838 |
| 2013 | 95 | #2032 |
| 2012 | 98 | #1983 |
| 2011 | 115 | #1772 |
| 2010 | 118 | #1751 |
| 2009 | 123 | #1769 |
| 2008 | 122 | #1789 |
| 2007 | 138 | #1613 |
| 2006 | 130 | #1627 |
| 2005 | 117 | #1690 |
| 2004 | 146 | #1423 |
| 2003 | 107 | #1755 |
| 2002 | 139 | #1386 |
| 2001 | 119 | #1560 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Malena a popular girl name?
Malena ranked #2257 among girls in 2025 with 81 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1984.
When was the name Malena most popular?
Malena peaked in 2004, when 146 American girls received the name (ranked #1423 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Malena?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,222 newborn American girls was named Malena. It scores 59/100 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.