Male Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Male originates from Latin, meaning 'bad' or 'evil', but has also been linked to the term for 'manly'. It has evolved through various forms in different languages. While historically used to denote male individuals, it is less popular as a personal name today. The name does not have biblical relevance. Notable figures include Malcolm X and Malala Yousafzai.
The name Male is most popular in New Mexico, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Male has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Male' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9331st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1274th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4887th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7207th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Male' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Male"
Pronunciation
/mɑːleɪ/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Male is derived from the Latin word 'mālus', meaning 'bad' or 'evil'. It has also been associated with the Latin term 'masculus', which means 'male' or 'manly'.
Meaning
bad, evil
Language Evolution
Latin: Mălus, Old French: Male, Middle English: Male
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in various cultures as a descriptor for male individuals, especially in medieval times when gender distinctions in names became more prominent.
Variants & Derivatives
Mal, Mala, Malen
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary times, the name Male is less commonly used as a personal name, but it retains a strong association with gender identification.
Famous People
Malcolm X, Malala Yousafzai
Explore More Male Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Male"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Male"
"Male" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 9331st of 10718 | 10 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1274th of 16616 | 1,113 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4887th of 24088 | 270 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7207th of 23106 | 132 |
Regional Popularity of "Male" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
55.90% 1947th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
34.68% 1278th/3685 |
10.21% 457th/4475 |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
36.81% 2325th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
32.96% 1702nd/5164 |
53.40% 3905th/7313 |
33.94% 2533rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
29.14% 1829th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Male" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Male"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Male" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.