The first name Malek
A boy’s name.
2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
From Czech Málek, Polish Małek, Slovene Malek, or a variant of the Muslim name Malik.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 26 boys were named Malek, making it the 1,124th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 32 births (#939).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Malek with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Malek at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 121 boys born in the United States were named Malek, the 1,472nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 151 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Malek
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Malek BennabiAlgerian philosopher (1905–1973)
- Malek JandaliAward-winning composer & pianist, born 1972
- Malek AshrafChupanid ruler, 1344–1357
- Malek HaddadAlgerian writer (1927–1978)
- Malek BensmaïlAlgerian film director, born 1966
- Malek AlloulaAlgierian writer (1937-2015)
- Malek ChebelAlgerian writer and anthropologist (1953–2016)
Questions
- What does the name Malek mean?
- From Czech Málek, Polish Małek, Slovene Malek, or a variant of the Muslim name Malik.
- How popular is the name Malek?
- In 2025, 26 boys born in England and Wales were named Malek, ranking 1,124th. Its peak was 2021, with 32 births.
- Is Malek a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 3,092 US babies named Malek since 1880 were boys.
- When was Malek most popular?
- 2023 in the United States, when 151 babies were named Malek, its highest rank at 1,278th.
- Is Malek also a surname?
- Yes. Malek is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.