Mahlon
Primarily a boy's name of Hebrew origin with 5,608 recorded births. Also given to 23 girls.
Meaning & Origin
The first husband of Ruth, mentioned in the Book of Ruth in the Bible.
Mahlon is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew meaning 'sickness' or 'great sickness' — a name that appears in the Book of Ruth as the first husband of Ruth, the great-grandfather of King David.
Despite its literal meaning, Mahlon carries the deep biblical resonance of the Ruth narrative — one of the most beloved stories of loyalty and love in the Hebrew scriptures. It's been used in Puritan and biblical-revival naming traditions, rare enough today to be genuinely distinctive.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Mahlon is rooted in the Hebrew tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1880 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
With 5,608 recorded U.S. births, Mahlon has clearly resonated across communities. Names that reach this level of adoption typically carry a sound that works in multiple accents and cultural contexts — a kind of phonetic universality.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Mahlon was #2991 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3423, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 217 | #2920 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 435 | #2799 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 420 | #2649 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 378 | #2191 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 286 | #2058 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 280 | #1794 | — |
| 1960s | 296 | #1476 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 428 | #1161 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 568 | #896 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 648 | #772 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 825 | #717 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 545 | #738 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 100 | #867 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 87 | #786 | — |
| 1880s | 95 | #689 | — |
The Story of Mahlon
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1919, Mahlon is a name steeped in history. Boys named Mahlon are most likely born between 1909 and 1929.
How rare is Mahlon?
Only about 1 in every 105,882 babies born in 2024 was named Mahlon — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 825 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Mahlon by the numbers
- Would fill 117 school buses
- Meeting one Mahlon per day would take 15.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(144 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 34 | #3423 |
| 2023 | 45 | #2825 |
| 2022 | 52 | #2605 |
| 2021 | 49 | #2638 |
| 2020 | 37 | #3108 |
| 2019 | 45 | #2789 |
| 2018 | 53 | #2459 |
| 2017 | 38 | #3102 |
| 2016 | 44 | #2750 |
| 2015 | 46 | #2667 |
| 2014 | 37 | #3071 |
| 2013 | 43 | #2747 |
| 2012 | 38 | #3037 |
| 2011 | 46 | #2656 |
| 2010 | 45 | #2711 |
| 2009 | 45 | #2734 |
| 2008 | 34 | #3320 |
| 2007 | 49 | #2555 |
| 2006 | 43 | #2726 |
| 2005 | 37 | #2881 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Mahlon as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Mahlon has also been given to 23 girls in the U.S. since 2008.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahlon a boy's or girl's name?
When was Mahlon most popular?
How popular is the name Mahlon?
Can Mahlon be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024