Mal
A short form of given names such as Mallory, Malcolm etc.
Every Mal since 1880 — 343 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Mal
Mal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #9,403 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 343 American babies have been named Mal. Its peak came in 1950, when 13 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Mal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Mal year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #9,403 |
| 2024 | 6 | #11,837 |
| 2023 | — | — |
| 2022 | 7 | #10,464 |
| 2021 | 6 | #11,629 |
| 2020 | 7 | #10,199 |
| 2019 | 7 | #10,421 |
| 2018 | — | — |
| 2017 | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — |
| 2012 | 5 | #13,485 |
| 2011 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — |
| 2008 | 5 | #13,831 |
| 2007 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 5 | #4,391 |
| 1955 | 5 | #4,194 |
| 1950 | 13 | #2,163 |
| 1945 | 5 | #3,602 |
| 1940 | 6 | #3,337 |
| 1935 | 6 | #3,500 |
| 1930 | 7 | #3,480 |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | 7 | #3,267 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | 7 | #785 |
Famous people named Mal
- Mal Evans Engineer · 1935–1976
- Mal Anderson Tennis player · b. 1935
- Mal Whitfield Athlete · 1924–2015
- Malú Singer · b. 1982
- Mal Donaghy Soccer player · b. 1957
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mal mean?
A short form of given names such as Mallory, Malcolm etc.
How popular is the name Mal in 2025?
Mal ranked #9,403 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Mal?
343 babies have been named Mal in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Mal most popular?
Mal peaked in 1950, when 13 newborns received the name.
Is Mal a boy or girl name?
Mal is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Mal rising or falling?
Mal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Mal?
Well-known people named Mal include Mal Evans (engineer), Mal Anderson (tennis player), Mal Whitfield (athlete).