NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Malcom

Derived from Scottish Gaelic meaning "disciple of St. Columba".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Malcom is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Malcom popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 4 births.

This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2010 to 2013. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Malcom. 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 2014 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Malcom ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 4 boys were registered as Malcom.
  • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malcom as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4685

2013

Births in 2013

3

Latest year

Peak year

2010

4 births

Estimated living

7

2026

Meaning

What does Malcom mean?

The name Malcom originated from the Gaelic language and culture, with roots dating back to ancient Scotland. It is derived from the Old Gaelic words "mál" meaning "disciple" and "colm" meaning "dove" or "Saint Columba." The name was initially spelled as "Mael Coluim," which translates to "servant of Saint Columba."

In the Middle Ages, the name was commonly found in Scottish historical records, particularly among members of the Scottish royal family. One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Máel Coluim III, also known as Malcolm III, who reigned as the King of Scots from 1058 to 1093.

The name gained further prominence during the reign of Malcolm IV, who ruled Scotland from 1153 to 1165. He was known as "Malcolm the Maiden" due to his youth and inexperience when he ascended the throne. Another famous bearer of the name was Malcolm I, who ruled as the King of Scots from 943 to 954.

Beyond Scotland, the name Malcom has been recorded in various historical contexts. For instance, Malcom I, King of Alban, ruled from 858 to 862, while Malcom II, King of Scots, reigned from 1005 to 1034.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Malcom. One of the most famous was Malcolm X (1925-1965), an influential African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. Other notable figures include Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006), an English composer; Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), an American publisher and businessman; Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010), a British impresario and musician; and Malcolm Muggeridge (1903-1990), an English satirist and journalist.

The name Malcom has maintained its historical significance and continues to be used in various parts of the world, particularly in Scotland, England, and North America.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Malcom over time

The chart below shows babies named Malcom registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Malcom, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Malcom
01234201020112013

Decades

Malcom by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malcom 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
2010s #4275 7 2

Related

Names similar to Malcom

FAQ

Malcom: questions and answers

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

In 2013, Malcom was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Malcom most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 4 babies registered as Malcom in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Malcom?

Derived from Scottish Gaelic meaning "disciple of St. Columba".

How many people are called Malcom in the UK?

A total of 7 babies have been registered as Malcom across the 2 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.