NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Malikai

An English name of Hawaiian origin referring to royalty.

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.

Malikai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Malikai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1859, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 13 births.

This profile covers 104 England and Wales registrations across 20 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.

Malikai is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 103 living people in the UK are called Malikai. 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

  • Malikai ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 13 boys were registered as Malikai.
  • About 103 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malikai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1859

2024

Births in 2024

13

Latest year

Peak year

2024

13 births

Estimated living

103

2026

Meaning

What does Malikai mean?

The name Malikai has its roots in the Hawaiian language and culture, originating from the Polynesian islands of the Pacific Ocean. It is a combination of two Hawaiian words: "mali" meaning "calm" or "peaceful," and "kai" meaning "ocean" or "sea." Thus, Malikai can be interpreted as "calm sea" or "peaceful ocean."

In ancient Hawaiian mythology, the name was often associated with the god Kanaloa, one of the major deities in the Hawaiian pantheon. Kanaloa was revered as the god of the ocean, and his name means "the free one" or "the unrestricted." The connection between Malikai and Kanaloa suggests that the name may have been given to individuals with a strong spiritual connection to the sea or those born near the ocean.

The earliest recorded use of the name Malikai can be traced back to the 18th century, when Hawaiian culture and language were first documented by European explorers and missionaries. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Malikai Kekuanaoa, a high chief and advisor to King Kamehameha III, who lived from 1790 to 1868.

Another notable figure with the name Malikai was Malikai Wilcox, a Hawaiian scholar and historian born in 1838. He played a significant role in preserving and documenting Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions during the tumultuous period of Western colonization in the 19th century.

In the 20th century, Malikai Morse, a Hawaiian artist and sculptor, gained recognition for his intricate wood carvings and traditional Hawaiian artwork. He was born in 1919 and passed away in 1992.

Malikai Dudoit, a professional surfer from Hawaii, made a name for himself in the world of competitive surfing in the 1980s and 1990s. He was known for his graceful and powerful surfing style, which embodied the essence of the name Malikai – a calm and peaceful mastery of the ocean.

Another prominent figure with the name Malikai was Malikai Moore, a Hawaiian musician and composer who helped popularize traditional Hawaiian music in the mid-20th century. He was born in 1920 and his compositions showcased the beauty and rhythms of the Hawaiian islands.

While the name Malikai has its roots in Hawaiian culture, it has gained popularity worldwide, particularly among those drawn to its peaceful and oceanic connotations. However, its historical significance remains deeply rooted in the islands of Hawaii and the rich cultural heritage of the Polynesian people.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Malikai over time

The chart below shows babies named Malikai 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 Malikai, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Malikai
0371013200420142024

Decades

Malikai by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malikai 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 #3263 32 5
2010s #3521 45 9
2000s #3279 27 6

Related

Names similar to Malikai

FAQ

Malikai: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Malikai was ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.

When was Malikai most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 13 babies registered as Malikai in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Malikai?

An English name of Hawaiian origin referring to royalty.

How many people are called Malikai in the UK?

A total of 104 babies have been registered as Malikai across the 20 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.