Boy name · Arabic
Malik
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: king, sovereignMalik is a boy's name that comes from Arabic and means "king, sovereign". It is used in Arabic.
- Meaning
- King, sovereign
- Origin
- Arabic
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- MAH-lik
Meaning and origin of Malik
As a boy's name, Malik comes from Arabic and means "king, sovereign". It is used in Arabic.
Say it MAH-lik. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Malik is also a surname: the 1,908th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 18,478 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Malik on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Malik on 1 list.
“King, sovereign; Arabic, used across the Muslim world. Say MAH-lik”
From Strong boy names, powerful boy names for kings and leaders
How popular is Malik?
- US rank in 2025
- #437
- 724 babies, 424 per million boys
- Best rank
- #97 in 1996
- 4,026 babies that year
- Babies since 1949
- At least 49,607
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 7 per million |
| 1970s | 82 per million |
| 1980s | 77 per million |
| 1990s | 922 per million |
| 2000s | 740 per million |
| 2010s | 490 per million |
| 2020s | 459 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #382 | #378 | #373 | #363 | #373 | #392 | #395 | #383 | #428 | #437 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Malik
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- MajidGlorious, noble (Arabic, boy)
- MarkOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MaloBright pledge (Breton, boy)
- MaluShade, shelter, peace (Hawaiian, unisex)
- MániThe moon (Old Norse, boy)
- MarekOf Mars (Latin, boy)
- MaxiPet form of Maximiliano (Spanish, boy)
- MazinRain clouds (Arabic, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ReaganLittle king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- AbdulmalikServant of the King (Arabic, boy)
- AdaezePrincess, king's daughter (Igbo, girl)
- BaltasarBel protect the king (Akkadian, boy)
- BedwyrWelsh form of Bedivere, a knight of King Arthur (Welsh, boy)
- EmyrKing, lord (Welsh, boy)
- FlaithríKing of princes (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GökhanKing of the sky (Turkish, boy)
- GolshahFlower of the king (Persian, girl)
- HakanEmperor, sovereign (Turkish, boy)
- KağanKing, ruler (Turkish, boy)
- KingsleyKing's wood (Old English, boy)
- KingstonKing's town (Old English, boy)
- LeroyThe king (Old French, boy)
Middle names for Malik
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Arabic
- AliHigh, exalted (Arabic, boy)
- AbdullahServant of God (Arabic, boy)
- AhmadMost praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- AzizPowerful, respected, beloved (Arabic, boy)
- HaiderLion (Arabic, boy)
- HassanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- MansurVictorious (Arabic, boy)
- MuhammadPraised, praiseworthy (Arabic, boy)
- NoorLight, radiance (Arabic, unisex)
- AdelJust, fair (Arabic, boy)
- AmirPrince, commander (Arabic, boy)
- FalakCelestial sphere, sky (Arabic, unisex)
- FaridUnique, matchless (Arabic, boy)
- FirdausParadise (Arabic, unisex)
- HabibBeloved, darling (Arabic, boy)
- HadiGuide, leader (Arabic, boy)
- HamidPraiseworthy, commendable (Arabic, boy)
- HilalCrescent moon (Arabic, unisex)
Malik: common questions
What does the name Malik mean?
Malik comes from Arabic and means "king, sovereign".
Is Malik a boy or girl name?
Malik is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Malik come from?
Malik comes from Arabic and means "king, sovereign". Today it is used in Arabic.
How do you pronounce Malik?
Say MAH-lik. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Malik?
Malik ranked #437 in the US in 2025, with 724 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Malik?
Names spelled like Malik include Majid, Mark, Malo, Malu and Máni.
What middle names go with Malik?
Middle names that flow well with Malik include Abraham, Arnold, Augustus, Lincoln and River. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.