UK girl's name
Malise
French masculine name meaning "unfortunate" or "unhappy".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Malise is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Malise popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5876, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 to 2012. 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.
Malise is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Malise. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Malise ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 girls were registered as Malise.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malise as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5876
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Malise mean?
The name Malise originated from the ancient Gaelic language spoken in Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "maol," meaning "bald" or "tonsured," and "isa," a pet form of the name Isaac. The name was likely given to a monk or priest who had taken religious vows and shaved their head.
One of the earliest known historical figures with this name was Malise, Earl of Strathearn, who lived in Scotland in the 13th century. He was a prominent noble and military leader during the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.
Another notable bearer of the name was Malise Graham, 1st Earl of Menteith, who lived in Scotland in the 14th century. He was a powerful Scottish nobleman and a supporter of King Robert II.
In the 16th century, there was a Scottish churchman named Malise Dugalson, who served as the Abbot of Soulseat Abbey on the Isle of Lewis.
A more recent historical figure with the name was Malise Rudolph Dewar, an Australian politician and lawyer who lived from 1892 to 1971. He served as the Attorney-General of New South Wales from 1932 to 1941.
Malise Ruthven, born in 1944, is a British writer, historian, and academic. He is best known for his works on Islam and the Middle East, including "Islam: A Very Short Introduction" and "A Fury for God: The Islamist Attack on America."
While the name Malise has its roots in Scotland and Ireland, it has been used sparingly throughout history. However, it remains a unique and intriguing name with a strong connection to the Celtic languages and cultures of the British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Malise by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malise 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 | #5876 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Malise
- 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
Malise: questions and answers
How popular is the name Malise in the UK right now?
In 2012, Malise was ranked #5876 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Malise most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Malise in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Malise?
French masculine name meaning "unfortunate" or "unhappy".
How many people are called Malise in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Malise across the 1 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.