The first name Malik

In 2025, 160 boys were named Malik, making it the 282nd most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 177 births (#264).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Malik with other names.

In 2025, 724 boys born in the United States were named Malik, the 437th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1996, when 4,026 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.

• Malik ibn Anas
  Arab Islamic jurist, theologian and hadith traditionist (711–795)
• Malik-Shah I
  During his rule as the Sultan of the Seljuk Empire from 1072 to 1092, Sultan Malik-Shah I
• Malik Tillman
  German-American soccer player, born 2002
• Malik Beasley
  American basketball player (born 1996)
• Malik al-Ashtar
  Arab military commander (died 658)
• Malik Monk
  American basketball player (born 1998)
• Malik Kafur
  Aka Taj al-Din Izz al-Dawla, a prominent eunuch slave-general of the Delhi Sultanate, 1250–1316
• Malik Ghulam Muhammad
  3rd Governor General of Pakistan (1895-1956)
• Malik Zidi
  French actor, born 1975
• Malik Yoba
  American actor, born 1967
• Malik Rose
  American basketball player (born 1974)
• Malik Allen
  Basketball player, born 1978

• Muhammad
• Mohammed
• Mohammad
• Ibrahim
• Mohamed
• Yusuf
• Ahmed
• Omar
• Ahmad
• Abdullah
• Musa
• Amir
• Muhammed
• Yahya
• Hamza
• Mustafa

All 218 names of Arabic origin

What does the name Malik mean?

Malik means “leader” in Arabic.

What is the origin of the name Malik?

From Arabic مَالِك (mālik) and مَلِك (malik, “Leader”).

How popular is the name Malik?

In 2025, 160 boys born in England and Wales were named Malik, ranking 282nd. Its peak was 2024, with 177 births.

Is Malik a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 49,866 US babies named Malik since 1880 were boys.

When was Malik most popular?

1996 in the United States, when 4,026 babies were named Malik, its highest rank at 97th.

How do you pronounce Malik?

Malik is /məˈlik/, 2 syllables.

Is Malik also a surname?

Yes. Malik is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.