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The short answer
Malcolm is a masculine name used in Scottish and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Máel Coluim, which means ‘disciple of Saint Columba’. This was the name of four kings of Scotland starting in the 10th century, including Malcolm III, who became king after killing Macbeth, the usurper who had defeated his father Duncan." It ranked #272 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Máel Coluim, which means ‘disciple of Saint Columba’. This was the name of four kings of Scotland starting in the 10th century, including Malcolm III, who became king after killing Macbeth, the usurper who had defeated his father Duncan. The entry lists its usage as Scottish, English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Malcolm ranked #272 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #272 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Scottish) and that sit near Malcolm in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Malcolm mean?
Malcolm means "disciple of Saint Columba", according to Behind the Name.
Is Malcolm a popular name?
Malcolm ranked #272 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Malcolm a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Malcolm appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Malcolm — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
