Maalik
A boy's name of Arabic origin with 543 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
When Maalik hit its peak of 35 births in 1995, the internet was beginning to expose parents to a wider world of naming options, and pop culture influence on baby names was at an all-time high.
Maalik has stayed in use since then, even as naming fashions have shifted around it.
In the most recent SSA release, Maalik ranks #8069 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Maalik is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin, a variant of Malik, meaning 'king' or 'master.' Al-Malik is one of the 99 names of God in Islamic tradition, making this a name of profound spiritual significance. Maalik is also the name of the angel who guards the gates of hellfire in Islamic belief.
Maalik carries both royal authority and divine weight — a name for parents who want their son to embody both worldly strength and spiritual responsibility.
EtymologyShow more
Maalik is built from 6 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Arabic naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Maalik creates its characteristic crisp, punchy quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Maalik was #4208 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #8069, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 40 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 132 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 183 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 180 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 8 | — |
The Story of Maalik
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1995, Maalik is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Maalik are most likely born between 1989 and 2005.
How rare is Maalik?
Only about 1 in every 360,000 babies born in 2024 was named Maalik — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1989, peaked in the 2000s with 183 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Maalik by the numbers
- Would fill 11 school buses
- Meeting one Maalik per day would take 1.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(35 years, 1989–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 10 | #8069 |
| 2023 | 8 | #9424 |
| 2022 | 5 | #13574 |
| 2021 | 9 | #8576 |
| 2020 | 8 | #9221 |
| 2019 | 16 | #5705 |
| 2018 | 7 | #10335 |
| 2017 | 12 | #6947 |
| 2016 | 15 | #5946 |
| 2015 | 14 | #6171 |
| 2014 | 15 | #5896 |
| 2013 | 14 | #6114 |
| 2012 | 15 | #5881 |
| 2011 | 11 | #7311 |
| 2010 | 13 | #6584 |
| 2009 | 22 | #4529 |
| 2008 | 11 | #7523 |
| 2007 | 16 | #5586 |
| 2006 | 11 | #7244 |
| 2005 | 22 | #4143 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1989–2024