Boy · #214 in 2026

Malakai

Malakai is a name with multiple cultural origins: Fijian, Tongan, English.

  • Fijian
  • Tongan
  • English
Current Rank
#214
Peak Rank
#214 (2026)
Total Babies
19K
5-Yr Trend
+49%
2006
First Year
2024
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#12237
Peak Rank
57
Total Count
10
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Malakai

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Malakai is a name with multiple cultural origins: Fijian, Tongan, English.

Origin data from Behind the Name .

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • Fijian
  • Tongan
  • English

The Story of Malakai

The earliest SSA record of Malakai as a baby boy name dates back to 1988, when 7 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 1,669 newborns named Malakai — #214 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 54% of all recorded Malakais. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #214 among baby boy names with 1,669 births, rising sharply (+49% over the past five years). In total, more than 19K Malakais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Malakai

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Malakai. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Malakai

Phonetically similar names — useful when Malakai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Malaco
  • Makai
  • Molokai
  • Maliki
  • Melaka
  • Malave
  • Meloche
  • Mollica
  • Malakoff
  • Milky
  • Malarkey
  • Malawi

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Malakai

What does the name Malakai mean?
Malakai is a name with multiple cultural origins: Fijian, Tongan, English.
What is the origin of the name Malakai?
Malakai has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Fijian, Tongan, English.
How popular is Malakai in 2026?
In 2026, Malakai ranks #214 among boys' names in the U.S., with 1,669 babies given the name that year.
When was Malakai most popular?
Malakai reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #214 that year with 1,669 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Malakai most popular?
Malakai has historically been most popular in U.S. Territories, Hawaii, Alaska. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Malakai.
Is Malakai a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Malakai is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Malakai?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Malakai include Dallas, Lamont, Lukas. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Malakai?
Common variants and related forms of Malakai include Malachi. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

About the name Malakai

Malakai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1988 and has accumulated 19K births in the dataset. Malakai's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #214. Use the chart and map above to compare Malakai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.