UK girl's name
Malen
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially deriving from the Spanish "mala" meaning "bad".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Malen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Malen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2011 to 2022. 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 9 living people in the UK are called Malen. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Malen ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 3 girls were registered as Malen.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Malen mean?
The name Malen has its origins in the Swedish language and culture, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Swedish word "mal," which means "speech" or "language." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who had a talent for oratory or communication skills.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malen can be found in the Swedish historical records from the 13th century. It was then more commonly spelled as "Maalin" or "Malin." During this period, Scandinavia was heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, and it is possible that the name was used within religious contexts.
In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Malen was Malen Eriksson, a Swedish nobleman and military commander who played a significant role in the Swedish-Danish wars. He was born around 1320 and is remembered for his leadership and bravery on the battlefield.
Another historical figure with the name Malen was Malen Frölich, a Swedish painter and artist who lived during the 17th century (1628-1694). She was renowned for her portraiture and religious paintings, many of which adorned churches and noble households in Sweden.
In the realm of literature, Malen Sture was a Swedish author and poet who lived during the 19th century (1811-1876). Her works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, and she is considered a prominent figure in the Romantic literary movement in Sweden.
Moving into the 20th century, Malen Gier (1904-1987) was a Swedish actress and stage performer who gained recognition for her roles in several theater productions and early Swedish films. Her talent and versatility as an actress earned her critical acclaim throughout her career.
While these are just a few examples, the name Malen has been present throughout Swedish history and has been worn by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, artists, writers, and performers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Malen over time
The chart below shows babies named Malen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Malen, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Malen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malen 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 | #5669 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5831 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Malen
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Malen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Malen in the UK right now?
In 2022, Malen was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Malen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 3 babies registered as Malen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Malen?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially deriving from the Spanish "mala" meaning "bad".
How many people are called Malen in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Malen across the 3 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.