Mal
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- MAL
- Origin
- Scottish
Mal is a boys' name of Scottish origin. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Mal mean?
Scottish: usually a short form of Malcolm
Usually a nickname for Malcolm, from Gaelic Mael Coluim, 'follower of Saint Columba'.
Is Mal a girl's or a boy's name?
Mal is a boys' name.
How popular is Mal in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2004, with 3 boys.
Mal in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | #5,198 |
| 2023 | 3 | #5,193 |
| 2022 | 0 | – |
| 2021 | 0 | – |
| 2020 | 0 | – |
| 2019 | 0 | – |
| 2018 | 0 | – |
| 2017 | 0 | – |
| 2016 | 0 | – |
| 2015 | 0 | – |
| 2014 | 0 | – |
| 2013 | 0 | – |
| 2012 | 0 | – |
| 2011 | 0 | – |
| 2010 | 0 | – |
| 2009 | 3 | #4,691 |
| 2008 | 0 | – |
| 2007 | 0 | – |
| 2006 | 0 | – |
| 2005 | 0 | – |
| 2004 | 3 | #3,792 |
Names like Mal
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Maxwell, Max, Myles, Michael, Mac, Michal, Al, George, Jack, Scott, James, Jude
Names related to Mal
More Scottish names
Isla, Finley, Logan, Arabella, Cameron, Bonnie, Paisley, Brody, Carson, Brodie, Finlay, Blair, Lennox, Skye, Knox, Dallas
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Mal: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/mal, updated 20 October 2026.