Maleo
The maleo is a large megapode and the only member of the monotypic genus Macrocephalon. The maleo is endemic to Sulawesi and the nearby smaller island of Buton in Indonesia. It is found in the tropical lowland and hill forests, but nests in the open sandy areas, volcanic soils, or beaches that are heated by the sun or geothermal energy for incubation.
Meaning & Origin of Maleo
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The maleo is a large megapode and the only member of the monotypic genus Macrocephalon. The maleo is endemic to Sulawesi and the nearby smaller island of Buton in Indonesia. It is found in the tropical lowland and hill forests, but nests in the open sandy areas, volcanic soils, or beaches that are heated by the sun or geothermal energy for incubation.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Maleo
Maleo first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2023, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 5 Maleos were born — ranking #12,230 that year. As of 2026, Maleo ranks #12,230 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Maleos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2020s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Maleo
Phonetically similar names — useful when Maleo 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 Maleo
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About the name Maleo
Maleo is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2023 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Maleo's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #12,230. Use the chart and map above to compare Maleo'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.