Malena
Girl name · #2257 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Malena? In official American birth records, Malena has been tracked continuously since 1886, giving it 139 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Malena against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Malena in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Malena is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Malena will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Malena is most common
State-level data for Malena is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Malena?
In official American birth records, the name Malena first appeared in 1886 (over 139 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.