NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Malone

A unisex name of Irish origin meaning "strong, brave protector".

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.

Malone is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Malone popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2671, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 10 births.

This profile covers 47 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2007 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.

The latest count is about 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 47 living people in the UK are called Malone. 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

  • Malone ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 10 boys were registered as Malone.
  • About 47 living people in the UK are estimated to have Malone as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2671

2024

Births in 2024

8

Latest year

Peak year

2023

10 births

Estimated living

47

2026

Meaning

What does Malone mean?

The name Malone has its origins in the Gaelic language, specifically from Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is believed to have derived from the Old Irish word "máel" meaning "bald" or "tonsured" and the word "óna" meaning "descendant" or "grandson". The combination of these words, "máel óna", is thought to have been a descriptive term used to refer to a descendant of a tonsured or bald person.

The name Malone can be traced back to medieval Ireland and Scotland, where it was used as a surname and later adopted as a given name. It is believed that the name first appeared in written records around the 12th century, although its precise origin is uncertain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Malone is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a figure named Malone O'Mallon, who was an Irish chieftain in the 14th century.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Malone. One of the most famous was Malone de Widehill, an English crusader who fought in the Third Crusade during the late 12th century.

In the 16th century, a Scottish poet named Malone Michaelson gained recognition for his works, which included poems and ballads that celebrated Scottish culture and history.

During the 17th century, Malone O'Byrne was an Irish soldier who fought in the Confederate Wars and later became a renowned military tactician.

In the 19th century, Malone Butler was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina from 1839 to 1843.

Another notable figure with the name Malone was Malone Muggeridge, an English writer, and satirist who lived from 1903 to 1990. He was known for his witty and insightful commentary on social and political issues.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Malone over time

The chart below shows babies named Malone registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 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 Malone, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Malone
035810200720152024

Decades

Malone by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Malone 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 #3602 24 4
2010s #4186 20 5
2000s #4333 3 1

Related

Names similar to Malone

FAQ

Malone: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Malone was ranked #2671 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.

When was Malone most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 10 babies registered as Malone in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Malone?

A unisex name of Irish origin meaning "strong, brave protector".

How many people are called Malone in the UK?

A total of 47 babies have been registered as Malone across the 10 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.