Malykai
A unique invented name, combining elements that likely relate to "angel".
Name Census estimates that about 87 living Americans carry the first name Malykai. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Malykai today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Malykai births was 2021 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Malykai. 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 Malykai. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
87
~ 1 in 3,939,705 Americans
Peak year
2021
10 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,516
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Malykai: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Malykai from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 36 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malykai 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 Malykai 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 Malykai
The name Malykai is believed to have originated from the Hawaiian language, with roots dating back to the ancient Polynesian cultures of the Pacific Islands. It is thought to be derived from the words "malu," meaning "shade" or "shelter," and "kai," meaning "sea" or "ocean." Thus, the name Malykai could be interpreted to mean "shelter of the sea" or "shade of the ocean."
Historically, Hawaiian names were often inspired by natural elements, such as the land, ocean, and celestial bodies. The name Malykai likely reflects the deep connection that the indigenous Hawaiians had with their island environment and the importance of the ocean in their culture.
While there are no definitive records of the name Malykai appearing in ancient Hawaiian texts or historical documents, its linguistic roots suggest it has been in use for centuries among the native Hawaiian population.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Malykai was a Hawaiian sailor and navigator who lived in the late 18th century. He was known for his exceptional skills in reading the stars and navigating the vast Pacific Ocean using traditional Polynesian methods.
Another notable figure with the name Malykai was a Hawaiian chief and warrior who lived in the early 19th century. He was renowned for his bravery and leadership during the wars between the various Hawaiian islands, and his name became synonymous with strength and valor.
In the 20th century, Malykai Kauahi was a prominent Hawaiian activist and advocate for indigenous rights. Born in 1922, he dedicated his life to preserving the cultural heritage and traditions of the Hawaiian people, and played a crucial role in the Hawaiian Renaissance movement of the 1970s.
Malykai Akana, born in 1953, is a respected Hawaiian musician and composer. He has been instrumental in reviving and promoting traditional Hawaiian music, and his compositions have been widely celebrated for their authenticity and beauty.
Malykai Souza, born in 1985, is a contemporary Hawaiian artist and sculptor known for his intricate wood carvings that depict scenes from Hawaiian mythology and culture. His works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States and internationally.
People
Malykai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Malykai 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
Malykai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Malykai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 87 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Malykai 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 3,939,705 US residents.
Is Malykai a common name?
We classify Malykai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 88 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Malykai most popular?
The single biggest year for Malykai was 2021, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Malykai is about 10 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 Malykai in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Malykai a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Malykai 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 Malykai still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Malykai 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 Malykai 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 Malykai?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.