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Home › Baby Names Directory › Malachi

Malachi

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAL-uh-kye /ˈmæl.ə.kaɪ/High

Meaning: From the Hebrew mal'akhi, 'my messenger' — the name of the last prophet of the Hebrew Bible, whose short book closes the Old Testament. Malachi is overwhelmingly a boy's name in the U.S. and elsewhere; it is used here for a girl, and we note the lean clearly.Medium

In 30 seconds: A prophet's name: Malachi is Hebrew for 'my messenger' (said 'MAL-uh-kye'). It is overwhelmingly a boy's name — we note the lean clearly.
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Origin MediumHebrew
MeaningFrom the Hebrew mal'akhi, 'my messenger' — the name of the last prophet of the Hebrew Bible, whose short book closes the Old Testament. Malachi is overwhelmingly a boy's name in the U.S. and elsewhere; it is used here for a girl, and we note the lean clearly.
U.S. rank (2024)#14551 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2005
Total births (all-time)≈ 281

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200519912024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Malachi comes from the Hebrew mal'akhi, 'my messenger', and belongs to the prophet whose book ends the Old Testament. It is a long-established, well-used boys' name — in Ireland it also stood in for the old Irish Maelsechlainn. Its use for girls is very rare and runs against the grain, which we note clearly (said 'MAL-uh-kye').

For girls it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against heavy and steady boys' use. Biblical, strong, and boy-leaning.

Did you know? The Book of Malachi closes the Hebrew Bible, and the name means simply 'my messenger'. It has been a boys' name for millennia, which we note plainly.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Malachi — Hebrew mal'akhi 'my messenger'; biblical prophet; overwhelmingly a boys' name

Variations

MalakaiMalakiMalachy

Nicknames

MalKai

Famous Bearers

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If you like Malachi…

Malakai— the common respelling of the same name
Micah— a like biblical prophet name used for both
Mariah— a like Mal-/Mar- sound on the girls' side
Malia— a like Mal- opening for girls

Explore names like Malachi

By themehebrewbiblicalcross-sexprophet

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Malachi mean?

Malachi means 'my messenger' in Hebrew; it is the name of the prophet whose book closes the Old Testament.

How do you pronounce Malachi?

It's said MAL-uh-kye /ˈmæl.ə.kaɪ/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Malachi a boy or girl name?

Malachi is overwhelmingly a boy's name. It is used here for a girl, and we note that lean clearly.

How popular is Malachi?

For girls Malachi is exceedingly rare; for boys it is a well-used biblical favorite.

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