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Home › Baby Names Directory › Malcom

Malcom

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAL-kuhm /ˈmæl.kəm/Medium

Meaning: Disciple of Saint ColumbaMedium

In 30 seconds: Malcom means 'disciple of Saint Columba' and comes from the Gaelic naming world that gave us the older Máel Coluim. It is most familiar today in the fuller spelling Malcolm.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningDisciple of Saint Columba
U.S. rank (2025)#1775 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births91 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1992
Total births (all-time)≈ 5,863

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199218802025

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

The name traces back to the Gaelic Máel Coluim, literally a follower or devotee of Saint Columba, the missionary tied to early Christian Scotland. Over centuries that phrase contracted into the single name we know, with Malcolm becoming the standard English form and Maol Chaluim surviving in Gaelic. Malcom is the streamlined spelling that drops one letter from Malcolm.

The fuller form has carried real public weight, worn by Australian leaders Malcolm Fraser and Malcolm Turnbull. Malcom keeps the same sound while looking a touch more modern on the page.

Did you know? Malcom is a spelling variant of Malcolm, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'disciple of Saint Columba ' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Malcom — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

Máel ColuimMalcolmMaol Chaluim

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Malcolm Fraser (1930–2015)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Malcolm Turnbull (1954–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Malcom…

Malcolm— the standard spelling of this exact name, with the extra 'l'
Callum— draws on the same Saint Columba root that names Malcom honor
Ransom— lands in the same popularity range
Wisdom— a similarly popular pick
Mickey— another English name

Explore names like Malcom

By themeenglishnature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Malcom mean?

Malcom is usually explained as meaning 'disciple of Saint Columba ' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Malcom?

It's commonly said MAL-kuhm /ˈmæl.kəm/.

Is Malcom a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Malcom is used as a boy name.

How popular is Malcom?

In 2024, Malcom ranked #1755 in the U.S. for boys, with 94 births recorded.

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