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

Popularity of Malek by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Malek is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Malek being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 151 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Malek.

The history of the first name Malek

The name Malek has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "malik," which means "king" or "sovereign." The name signifies power, authority, and nobility.

In the early days of Islam, the name Malek was associated with rulers and leaders. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name can be found in the Quran, where it is mentioned as one of the attributes of Allah, the Almighty.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Malek. One of the most famous was Malek ibn Anas (714-795 CE), a renowned Islamic scholar and the founder of the Maliki school of jurisprudence, one of the four major Sunni schools of Islamic law.

Another prominent individual was Malek Shah (1055-1092 CE), the Sultan of the Seljuk Empire, who ruled over a vast territory spanning modern-day Iran, Iraq, and parts of Central Asia. His reign was marked by the expansion of the Seljuk territories and the patronage of arts and literature.

In the field of literature, Malek al-Shuara (meaning "King of Poets") was a title bestowed upon several influential poets throughout the Islamic world. One such figure was Badr Shakir al-Sayyab (1926-1964), an Iraqi poet who played a significant role in the Arab literary renaissance of the 20th century.

The name Malek also has a presence in ancient Persian literature. One example is Malek Shah, a character in the epic poem "Shahnameh" by the renowned Persian poet Ferdowsi (940-1020 CE). In the poem, Malek Shah is portrayed as a wise and just ruler.

Another notable figure bearing the name was Malek Adhel (1145-1218 CE), a Kurdish ruler and nobleman who served as the Sultan of Egypt and Syria during the Ayyubid dynasty. He was known for his military prowess and diplomatic skills, as well as his patronage of arts and sciences.

These examples illustrate the rich history and cultural significance of the name Malek, which has been associated with leadership, nobility, and intellectual pursuits across various regions and time periods.

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

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