Malcohm
A masculine name derived from the Gaelic 'Máel Coluim', meaning "disciple of Saint Columba".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Malcohm. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Malcohm today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malcohm births was 1992 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malcohm. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Malcohm. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1992
5 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
1992 SSA rank
#9,311
Tracked since 1992
Popularity
Malcohm: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Malcohm by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Malcohm during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Malcohm
The name Malcohm has its origins in the Gaelic language, which was spoken in Scotland and parts of Ireland. It emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 10th or 11th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic words "mal" meaning "disciple" or "follower," and "colm" meaning "dove" or "saint." It is believed to have been a name given to those who were devoted followers of a particular saint or religious figure.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malcohm can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, a figure named "Máel Coluim mac Domnaill" is mentioned, who lived in the late 11th century and was a king of Scots.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Malcohm. One of the most famous was Malcohm III, also known as Malcohm Canmore (c. 1031-1093), who was King of Scots from 1058 until his death. He played a significant role in the Norman conquest of England and the subsequent establishment of Anglo-Norman influence in Scotland.
Another prominent figure was Malcohm IV, known as "The Maiden" (c. 1141-1165), who was King of Scots from 1153 until his death. He was renowned for his piety and is remembered for his efforts to strengthen the Scottish church and improve the administration of justice in his kingdom.
In the 16th century, Malcohm Fleming (c. 1544-1613) was a Scottish minister and theologian who played a crucial role in the Scottish Reformation. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and was known for his debates with Catholic theologians.
In the realm of literature, Malcohm Lowry (1909-1957) was a renowned English novelist and poet, best known for his novel "Under the Volcano," which is considered a masterpiece of 20th-century literature.
Finally, Malcohm X (1925-1965), born Malcohm Little, was an influential African American minister, human rights activist, and prominent figure in the Nation of Islam. He was a powerful orator and advocate for Black empowerment, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of civil rights activists.
People
Malcohm + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malcohm as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Malcohm: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malcohm?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malcohm going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Malcohm a common name?
We classify Malcohm as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malcohm most popular?
The single biggest year for Malcohm was 1992, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malcohm is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Malcohm in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Malcohm a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malcohm in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Malcohm still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Malcohm in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Malcohm can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Malcohm?
You can see how many people have the name Malcohm on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.