Declining since 2020, #1,436 for boys today.
Popularity of Malakhi since 1999
Babies named Malakhi per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 635 |
| 2010s | 1,392 |
| 2020s | 1,006 |
Meaning & origin
Malakhi first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1999 and saw a steady rise in popularity, peaking in 2019. Since 2020, its usage has been declining. In the year of its peak, it was most frequently given in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Although its etymology is tied to the biblical name Malachi, the spelling Malakhi reflects a modern preference for distinctive phonetic variations. As of 2025, it holds a rank of 1436, with about 1 in 13,665 newborn boys receiving the name.
Malakhi is a modern spelling variant of the biblical name Malachi, which derives from the Hebrew מַלְאָכִי (mal'akhi) meaning 'my messenger' or 'my angel'. In the Hebrew Bible, Malachi is the last of the twelve minor prophets. The name Malachi was adopted by English Puritans in the 17th century and has been in continuous use since. The spelling Malakhi emerged in the late 20th century, reflecting a trend toward phonetic or distinctive spellings.
Where Malakhi is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mala, Khi
Sibling names for Malakhi
Names that share Malakhi's style, for a brother or sister.
