Name meaning & stats
Malcolm
Malcolm means “devotee of St Columba” (Scottish Gaelic origin). 54,157 US babies since 1940, peak 1992. Notable Malcolms are 1.4× over-represented as professors.
What it means
“devotee of St Columba”
Scottish GaelicWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 1992
54,157 US babies were named Malcolm between 1940 and 2025.
Where Malcolms end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.2× | High · 40 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | High · 35 people |
| Professor | 1.4× | High · 33 people |
| Basketball player | 1.2× | High · 33 people |
Among notable men who are professors, Malcolms show up 1.4× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Malcolm has a surprise career: 1.7×
Name twins (peaked around 1992)