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Malek

Boy name · Arabic

Meaningking · Arabic

Malek is an Arabic boy name meaning “king”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • GenerationMalek is having its moment right now. Most Maleks are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Malek would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 14,124 baby boys got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryMalek first shows up in US birth records in 1974, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 51 years since.
  • Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Maleks? Head to Oregon, where it's the #604 boy name, its best showing of any state.
Yawning baby in a knit hat beside a teddy bear
hello, little Malek

US births per million boys, 1974–2025

04590197420002025

Most popular states (2025)

OR rank #604MI rank #768CA rank #906WA rank #999

Similar names

Boy name: MalachiBoy name: MalakaiBoy name: MalcolmUnisex name: MalloryBoy name: MalikBoy name: Malcom
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Malek

Malek is a boy name of Arabic origin meaning “king”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It has been around for generations, yet it's never been more loved than it is today. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

More Arabic boy names

Questions about the name Malek

What does the name Malek mean?

Malek means “king” and comes from Arabic. Names built around “king” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Kinsley (“king's meadow”), Ryan (“little king”), Rory (“red king”) and Kingston (“king's town”).

What is the origin of the name Malek?

Malek is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Caleb (“dog, faithful”), Silas (“of the forest”), Aaron (“possibly exalted”) and Amir (“prince, commander”).

Is Malek a boy or girl name?

Malek is a boy name. In 2025, 121 US boys were named Malek.

How popular is the name Malek?

Malek ranked #1,466 for US boys in 2025, given to 121 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it reached #1,271. Over the last five years it has slipped 76 places.

What names are similar to Malek?

If you like Malek, you might also like Kinsley, Ryan, Rory and Kingston.

What should I know before naming my baby Malek?

Malek is an Arabic boy name meaning “king”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.