Malakhai
The malahai[a] is a historical headgear originating in present-day Kazakhstan, which was adopted in some of other regions of Central Asia and worn throughout the Russian Empire from the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries.
Meaning & Origin of Malakhai
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The malahai[a] is a historical headgear originating in present-day Kazakhstan, which was adopted in some of other regions of Central Asia and worn throughout the Russian Empire from the mid-18th to mid-19th centuries.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Malakhai
Malakhai first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2002, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 42 Malakhais were born — ranking #2,948 that year. As of 2026, Malakhai ranks #3,513 for baby boys with 33 births, rising sharply (+33% over the past five years). In total, more than 468 Malakhais have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Malakhai
Phonetically similar names — useful when Malakhai is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Malakhai
What does the name Malakhai mean?
How popular is Malakhai in 2026?
When was Malakhai most popular?
In which U.S. states is Malakhai most popular?
Is Malakhai a unisex name?
What names go well with Malakhai?
About the name Malakhai
Malakhai is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2002 and has accumulated 468 births in the dataset. Malakhai's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #2,948. Use the chart and map above to compare Malakhai's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.