Malick
An Arabic masculine name representing royalty, nobility, or kingship.
Name Census estimates that about 597 living Americans carry the first name Malick. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Malick today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malick births was 1997 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malick. 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
597
~ 1 in 574,128 Americans
Peak year
1997
32 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,349
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Malick: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malick from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 206 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Malick remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malick 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 Malick during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Malicks live
Origin
Meaning and history of Malick
The name Malick is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "malik" which means "king" or "ruler." It has its roots in the ancient Arabic language and culture, dating back to the 6th century CE.
The name Malick was commonly used in the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions during the early Islamic era. It was a popular choice for male children, reflecting the desire for them to grow up to be strong and powerful leaders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malick can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and scholars from the 8th and 9th centuries. It was often used as a symbolic name, representing the qualities of strength, wisdom, and authority.
In the realm of Islamic history, the name Malick was borne by several notable figures. One such individual was Malick Ibn Nuwayrah, a prominent Arab scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE. He was renowned for his contributions to the field of Arabic literature and linguistics.
Another famous bearer of the name was Malick al-Ashtar, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a celebrated military commander who lived in the 7th century CE. He is remembered for his bravery, strategic acumen, and unwavering loyalty to the Islamic faith.
Moving forward in time, the name Malick gained prominence in various parts of the world, particularly in West Africa and the African diaspora. One notable figure was Malick Sy, a Senegalese Muslim scholar and Sufi leader who lived in the 19th century. He played a significant role in the spread of Islamic education and the promotion of Sufi teachings in West Africa.
In the realm of literature, Malick Diop was a celebrated Senegalese writer and poet who lived from 1927 to 2017. He was known for his poetic works that explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the African experience.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Malick Al-Solaylee, a Yemeni-Canadian writer and journalist born in 1964. He is best known for his award-winning memoir "Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes," which delves into his experiences as a gay Muslim man.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have borne the name Malick throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage associated with this ancient Arabic name.
People
Malick + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malick 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
Malick: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malick?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 597 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malick 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 574,128 US residents.
Is Malick a common name?
We classify Malick as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 604 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malick most popular?
The single biggest year for Malick was 1997, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malick is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Malick a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malick 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.
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.