NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Malakai

A masculine name of Hebrew origin 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.

Malakai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Malakai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #357, with 123 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 124 births.

This profile covers 1,997 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 99% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 2,032 living people in the UK are called Malakai. 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

  • Malakai ranked #357 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 123 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 124 boys were registered as Malakai.
  • Malakai ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.
  • About 2,032 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malakai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#357

2024

Births in 2024

123

Latest year

Peak year

2023

124 births

Estimated living

2,032

2026

Meaning

What does Malakai mean?

The name Malakai derives from the Hebrew name Mal'achi, which means "messenger of God" or "my messenger." It has its origins in ancient biblical texts, specifically the Book of Malachi, the last book of the Hebrew Bible. The name Mal'achi is thought to have been given to the author of this book, who was likely a prophet living in the 5th century BCE.

The name Malakai is a variant spelling that emerged later, likely influenced by Greek and Latin translations of the Hebrew scriptures. It gained popularity among various Christian communities, particularly in English-speaking countries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malakai can be found in the writings of the early Christian theologian Tertullian, who lived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. He mentioned the name in his work "Against Marcion."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Malakai. One of the earliest was Malakai of Armagh, an Irish priest and scholar who lived in the 12th century. He is known for his work in preserving and copying ancient manuscripts.

In the 16th century, Malakai Sklodowski was a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought against the Swedish invasion of Poland during the Polish-Swedish War.

During the 18th century, Malakai Hitchins was an English sailor and explorer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages to the Pacific Ocean. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to set foot on the Hawaiian Islands.

In the 19th century, Malakai Brown was an American abolitionist and activist who worked alongside Frederick Douglass in the fight against slavery. He played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom.

Another notable figure was Malakai Barangaroo, an Aboriginal Australian man from the Eora Nation, who lived in the early 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the resistance against British colonization and is remembered for his efforts to preserve his people's traditions and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Malakai over time

The chart below shows babies named Malakai 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 Malakai, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 123 births in 2024, compared with 124 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Malakai
0316293124199720102024

Decades

Malakai by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malakai 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 #387 552 5
2010s #433 945 10
2000s #875 488 10
1990s #1832 12 2

Geography

Where Malakai is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Malakai. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Malakai ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #404 in 2024.

Scotland
6
Northern Ireland
3

Across the UK

Malakai in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#478 in 2024

9 years of NRS records, 41 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#404 in 2024

2 years of NISRA records, 7 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Malakai

  • Malakai Bayoh

    singer

    British vocalist and singer

    2009-

Related

Names similar to Malakai

FAQ

Malakai: questions and answers

How popular is the name Malakai in the UK right now?

In 2024, Malakai was ranked #357 for boys in England and Wales, with 123 births registered.

When was Malakai most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 124 babies registered as Malakai in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Malakai?

A masculine name of Hebrew origin meaning "messenger of God".

How many people are called Malakai in the UK?

A total of 1,997 babies have been registered as Malakai across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 41 more in Scotland and 7 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Malakai most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Malakai ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #404 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.