Malee
Feminine name of Thai origin meaning "flower garland".
Name Census estimates that about 318 living Americans carry the first name Malee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Malee today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malee births was 2002 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malee. 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.
People living today
318
~ 1 in 1,077,844 Americans
Peak year
2002
15 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,556
Tracked since 1966
Popularity
Malee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malee from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 96 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malee 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 Malee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Malee
The name Malee is of Indian origin and is derived from the Sanskrit word "mallikā," which means "jasmine flower." This name has been in use in various parts of India for centuries and is particularly popular in the southern regions of the country.
In Hindu mythology, the jasmine flower holds significant symbolism and is associated with purity, love, and divine femininity. It is often used in religious ceremonies and rituals, making the name Malee a revered choice among Hindu families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malee can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a minor character. However, the name gained more prominence during the medieval period, particularly in the region of Tamil Nadu, where it was commonly used by Tamil Brahmin families.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Malee. One of the earliest recorded was Malee Bhaumik, a renowned Indian poet and scholar who lived during the 11th century CE. Her literary works, composed in Sanskrit, were widely acclaimed and influential during her time.
In the 16th century, Malee Bai was a prominent figure in the Rajput court of Mewar. She was a skilled warrior and played a crucial role in defending the fortress of Chittorgarh against the Mughal forces led by Emperor Akbar in 1567 CE.
During the 19th century, Malee Arjun was a celebrated Indian social reformer and educator from Maharashtra. She was a pioneering advocate for women's education and established several schools and institutions to promote literacy among girls.
In the field of classical Indian dance, Malee Veerappa is a renowned exponent of the Bharatanatyam dance form. Born in 1957, she has been honored with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri, for her contributions to the preservation and promotion of this ancient dance tradition.
Another notable figure is Malee Alene Cox, an American author and educator who lived from 1927 to 2022. Her works, which focused on children's literature and education, have been widely acclaimed and have influenced generations of young readers and educators.
While the name Malee has its roots in ancient Indian culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity across various cultures and communities worldwide, each adding their own unique interpretations and associations to this beautiful and meaningful name.
People
Malee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malee 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
Malee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 318 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malee 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 1,077,844 US residents.
Is Malee a common name?
We classify Malee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 326 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malee most popular?
The single biggest year for Malee was 2002, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malee is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malee in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.