UK boy's name
Malachai
A Hebrew masculine name meaning "messenger of God".
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.
Malachai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Malachai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2088, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 13 births.
This profile covers 164 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1997 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 85% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 163 living people in the UK are called Malachai. 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
- • Malachai ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 13 boys were registered as Malachai.
- • About 163 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malachai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2088
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2006
13 births
Estimated living
163
2026
Meaning
What does Malachai mean?
The name Malachai has its origins in Hebrew, derived from the word "mal'akh" meaning "messenger" or "angel". It is a biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament as Malachi, one of the twelve minor prophets. The name Malachai is a variant spelling of Malachi.
In the Book of Malachi, the prophet is believed to have lived in the 5th century BC and played a crucial role in restoring traditional worship among the Jews after their return from the Babylonian exile. The book is considered significant in Jewish and Christian traditions as it concludes the Old Testament and foretells the coming of the Messiah.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malachai can be found in the 16th century. Malachai Thrugge was an English clergyman and academic who lived from 1528 to 1594. He served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, and was known for his contributions to the field of theology.
Another notable figure with the name Malachai was Malachai Parker, an American Puritan minister who lived from 1639 to 1718. He played a significant role in the early history of Massachusetts and was an influential figure in the Salem Witch Trials, opposing the executions of those accused of witchcraft.
In the 19th century, Malachai Underwood was a Canadian businessman and politician who lived from 1825 to 1881. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and was involved in various business ventures, including the establishment of a successful brewery.
Malachai Browne was an Irish-American painter and sculptor who lived from 1859 to 1935. He is renowned for his works depicting scenes from rural Ireland and his sculptures, which often portrayed historical and mythological figures.
A more recent figure with the name Malachai was Malachai Benjamin, an American singer-songwriter born in 1986. He is known for his work in the alternative rock and indie genres and has released several critically acclaimed albums.
While the name Malachai has its roots in Hebrew and biblical traditions, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in fields such as religion, politics, art, and music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Malachai over time
The chart below shows babies named Malachai registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Malachai, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malachai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malachai 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 | #3135 | 36 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2940 | 58 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2094 | 67 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Malachai
- 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
Malachai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Malachai in the UK right now?
In 2024, Malachai was ranked #2088 for boys in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Malachai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 13 babies registered as Malachai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Malachai?
A Hebrew masculine name meaning "messenger of God".
How many people are called Malachai in the UK?
A total of 164 babies have been registered as Malachai across the 22 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.