Malette
A diminutive French feminine form of Marie meaning "bitter" or "beloved".
Name Census estimates that about 17 living Americans carry the first name Malette. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Malette today is around 59 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malette births was 1967 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malette. 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 Malette. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
17
~ 1 in 20,162,020 Americans
Peak year
1967
20 babies that year
Average age
59
years old
1967 SSA rank
#2,832
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Malette: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Malette 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 Malette during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 | 20 | 20 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Malette
The given name Malette is a French diminutive form derived from the Germanic root "Amal", meaning "work" or "labor". It likely originated in the Middle Ages, initially used in France and parts of Europe influenced by French culture during that period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malette can be found in the Chronicles of Froissart, a 14th-century chronicler who documented the Hundred Years' War between England and France. In his writings, Malette is mentioned as the name of a young peasant girl from the village of Crécy, where a famous battle took place in 1346.
During the Renaissance era, a notable figure named Malette de Brie (1505-1572) became known for her skill as a lacemaker and embroiderer. She was commissioned by King Francis I of France to create intricate lace designs for the royal court, earning her a reputation as one of the finest craftswomen of her time.
In the 17th century, a French playwright and satirist named Malette de Villiers (1630-1701) gained recognition for his biting social commentaries and satirical works that critiqued the excesses of the aristocracy. His plays were widely performed in Paris and other major cities, cementing his place in the annals of French literature.
Moving into the 19th century, Malette Vauquer (1789-1867) was a French businesswoman who operated a renowned boarding house in Paris, which served as the setting for Honoré de Balzac's novel "Le Père Goriot". Her establishment was frequented by various literary figures and artists, making it a hub of cultural activity during that era.
Another notable figure bearing the name Malette was Malette Desjardins (1858-1937), a Canadian educator and advocate for women's rights. She played a pivotal role in establishing the first teacher training school for women in Quebec, paving the way for greater educational opportunities for women in the province.
Throughout history, the name Malette has carried associations with craftsmanship, artistic expression, and a dedication to improving society. While its origins may be rooted in the concept of labor, the individuals who bore this name have often left their mark through their creative endeavors and contributions to their respective fields.
People
Malette + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malette 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
Malette: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malette?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 17 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malette 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 20,162,020 US residents.
Is Malette a common name?
We classify Malette as "Very Rare". It ranks above 37.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malette most popular?
The single biggest year for Malette was 1967, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malette is about 59 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malette a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malette 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.