Malcolm
Malcolm: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈmæl.kəm/
Meaning and origin of Malcolm
Root meaning: “tonsured”
- A male given name from Scottish Gaelic or Goidelic, variant of Calum and Callum, feminine equivalent Malcolmina, equivalent to Scottish Gaelic Maol Chaluim.
Etymology
Royal name in Scotland, anglicised from various historical Goidelic names equivalent to Scottish Gaelic Maol Chaluim or Calum, Irish Maol Colm, Middle Irish Máel Coluim, Old Irish Máel Columb (literally “devotee of [Saint] Columba”); proper nouns derived from máel (“tonsured”) from Proto-Celtic *mailos, and columb (“dove”) from Latin columbus.
How popular is Malcolm?
Since 1880, 119 girls and 70,209 boys in the U.S. have been named Malcolm (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3459 in 1927. Its highest rank for boys was #205 in 1928. In 2025 it ranked #272 for boys, with 1,257 babies given the name.
Names similar to Malcolm
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Malcolm FAQ
What does the name Malcolm mean?
Malcolm traces back to a root meaning "tonsured". A male given name from Scottish Gaelic or Goidelic, variant of Calum and Callum, feminine equivalent Malcolmina, equivalent to Scottish Gaelic Maol Chaluim. Royal name in Scotland, anglicised from various historical Goidelic names equivalent to Scottish Gaelic Maol Chaluim or Calum, Irish Maol Colm, Middle Irish Máel Coluim, Old Irish Máel Columb (literally “devotee of [Saint] Columba”); proper nouns derived from máel (“tonsured”) from Proto-Celtic *mailos, and columb (“dove”) from Latin columbus.
What is the origin of the name Malcolm?
Malcolm is listed as a name of Scottish Gaelic or Goidelic origin.
How popular is the name Malcolm?
Since 1880, 119 girls and 70,209 boys in the U.S. have been named Malcolm (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3459 in 1927. Its highest rank for boys was #205 in 1928. In 2025 it ranked #272 for boys, with 1,257 babies given the name.
Is Malcolm a boy or girl name?
Malcolm is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 119 girls and 70,209 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.