UK boy's name
Mal
A diminutive of names like Malcolm, meaning "disciple of St. Columba".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Mal. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mal ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 3 boys were registered as Mal.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Mal mean?
The name Mal has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was spoken in ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "mala," which means "garland" or "wreath." The name has been in use for centuries and has been found in Hindu texts and scriptures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mal can be found in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which was composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE. In this epic, Mal was the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandavas in the great battle of Kurukshetra.
In the Middle Ages, the name Mal was also used in the Persian language, where it was derived from the Persian word "mal," which means "wealth" or "property." During this time, the name was popular among the Persian nobility and was often given to sons of wealthy families.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Mal was Malik Ambar, who lived from 1548 to 1626. He was an Ethiopian-born military leader who served as the Prime Minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate in the Deccan region of India. Malik Ambar was known for his military prowess and his successful campaigns against the Mughal Empire.
Another notable figure with the name Mal was Mal Devendra Nath Mukherjee, a Bengali writer and journalist who lived from 1859 to 1936. He was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement and was known for his satirical writings and his criticism of British rule in India.
In the 20th century, the name Mal was also used by Mal Whitfield, an American track and field athlete who lived from 1924 to 2015. Whitfield won three gold medals in the 800-meter and 400-meter hurdles events at the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics.
Another notable figure with the name Mal was Mal Waldron, an American jazz pianist and composer who lived from 1925 to 2002. Waldron was known for his collaborations with some of the greatest jazz musicians of his time, including Billie Holiday and John Coltrane.
Finally, the name Mal was also used by Mal Goode, an Australian rules football player who played for the North Melbourne Football Club in the 1970s and 1980s. Goode was a member of North Melbourne's premiership-winning team in 1977 and was known for his skill and athleticism on the field.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mal over time
The chart below shows babies named Mal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mal, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mal was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5055 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #4089 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Mal
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mal was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 3 babies registered as Mal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mal?
A diminutive of names like Malcolm, meaning "disciple of St. Columba".
How many people are called Mal in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Mal across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.