Find out how popular the first name Mahlon has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Mahlon by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Mahlon is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Mahlon being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 42 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Mahlon.

The history of the first name Mahlon

The given name Mahlon has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "machalon," which means "sickly" or "frail." This name appears in the Bible, specifically in the Book of Ruth, where Mahlon is mentioned as one of the two sons of Elimelech and Naomi.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Mahlon was Mahlon, the biblical figure from the Book of Ruth. He lived during the period of the Judges, which was approximately between the 12th and 11th centuries BCE. In the biblical narrative, Mahlon and his brother Chilion married Moabite women, but both died childless in the land of Moab.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Mahlon. In the 19th century, Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853) served as the 12th Governor of New Jersey from 1836 to 1837. He was also a United States Senator and a Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Another prominent figure was Mahlon Loomis (1826-1886), an American inventor and dentist. He is best known for his attempts to develop a wireless telegraph system, which he believed could transmit messages through the earth's atmosphere without the use of wires.

In the world of literature, Mahlon Blaine (1894-1969) was an American journalist and author. He wrote several books, including "Free Love and Heavenly Sinners" and "Plastics War," and worked as a screenwriter for various Hollywood studios.

The name Mahlon also appeared in the field of politics with Mahlon Pitney (1858-1924), an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1912 to 1922. He was appointed by President William Howard Taft.

Lastly, Mahlon Dickerson Sands (1911-1986) was an American chemist and inventor. He is credited with developing the first commercially successful polyethylene plastic, which revolutionized the plastics industry and had a significant impact on various industries and consumer products.

These individuals from different time periods and fields exemplify the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the given name Mahlon, which originated from ancient Hebrew roots and has been carried by notable figures throughout the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Mahlon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mahlon, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!