Is Malik a boy or a girl name?

Malik is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 48,143 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Malik in 2023?

Malik ranks #383 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1996 with 4,026 babies.

How do you pronounce Malik?

Malik is pronounced MAH-lik (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Malik?

Malik is also written as Malek, Malick, Maleek.

A name from Arabic · Boy

Malik

مَالِك

"King, sovereign, owner." Al-Mālik is one of the 99 Names of Allah. Also the name of Imam Malik ibn Anas, founder of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence (dominant in North Africa).

Compare

Popularity over time

A 74-year arc in numbers.

48,143 U.S. births recorded from 1949–2023.

Popularity · 1949–2023

835 births in 2023

1949 1986 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

M"King, sovereign, owner." Al-Mālik is one of the 99 Names of Allah. Also the name of Imam Malik ibn Anas, founder of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence (dominant in North Africa).

Etymology, in one line

Arabic root: m-l-k — م-ل-ك, possession, kingship

Regional variants

Extremely well-integrated into African-American naming traditions since the 1960s — strong enough that many US Maliks are not Muslim. A true crossover name.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Malik".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Malek Most common Malick Maleek

Related guides

People who carry the name Malik.

M
Imam Malik ibn Anas
M
Malik Monk (NBA player)
M
Zayn Malik (singer)

Quick answers

People often ask about Malik.

What does the name Malik mean?: Malik means "King, sovereign, owner." Al-Mālik is one of the 99 Names of Allah. Also the name of Imam Malik ibn Anas, founder of the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence (dominant in North Africa).
Where does the name Malik come from?: Malik is a boy name of Arabic origin. Extremely well-integrated into African-American naming traditions since the 1960s — strong enough that many US Maliks are not Muslim.
Is Malik a boy or a girl name?: Malik is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 48,143 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Malik in 2023?: Malik ranks #383 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1996 with 4,026 babies.
How do you pronounce Malik?: Malik is pronounced MAH-lik (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Malik?: Malik is also written as Malek, Malick, Maleek.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.

Malik

A 74-year arc in numbers.

A name that means something.

3 ways to spell "Malik".

Read more in the Almanac.

Arabic Names That Work in English Without Explanation

People who carry the name Malik.

People often ask about Malik.

If you love Malik, also consider…

About this page