Find out how popular the first name Malakai has been for the last 36 years (from 1988 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Malakai by gender

Based on the last 36 years of data, Malakai is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Malakai being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,568 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name Malakai.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named Malakai in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Malakai

The name Malakai derives from the Hebrew name Mal'achi, which means "messenger of God" or "my messenger." It has its origins in ancient biblical texts, specifically the Book of Malachi, the last book of the Hebrew Bible. The name Mal'achi is thought to have been given to the author of this book, who was likely a prophet living in the 5th century BCE.

The name Malakai is a variant spelling that emerged later, likely influenced by Greek and Latin translations of the Hebrew scriptures. It gained popularity among various Christian communities, particularly in English-speaking countries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malakai can be found in the writings of the early Christian theologian Tertullian, who lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. He mentioned the name in his work "Against Marcion."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Malakai. One of the earliest was Malakai of Armagh, an Irish priest and scholar who lived in the 12th century. He is known for his work in preserving and copying ancient manuscripts.

In the 16th century, Malakai Sklodowski was a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought against the Swedish invasion of Poland during the Polish-Swedish War.

During the 18th century, Malakai Hitchins was an English sailor and explorer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages to the Pacific Ocean. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to set foot on the Hawaiian Islands.

In the 19th century, Malakai Brown was an American abolitionist and activist who worked alongside Frederick Douglass in the fight against slavery. He played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom.

Another notable figure was Malakai Barangaroo, an Aboriginal Australian man from the Eora Nation, who lived in the early 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the resistance against British colonization and is remembered for his efforts to preserve his people's traditions and culture.

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 Malakai was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Malakai, 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!