What does Malcolm mean?
Malcolm means “Follower of saint columba”. It is a boy name of Gaelic origin.
Origin, gender and faith
- Origin: Gaelic – see more Gaelic names.
- Gender: Boy – browse boy names.
- Popularity: ranked #5630 in BabyNameMeaningz data.
Sound, spelling and pronunciation
Malcolm has 7 letters and 2 syllables, made of 2 vowels and 5 consonants (5 different letters). Its sound is best described as: crisp consonant ending.
Press Listen at the top of the page to hear the name spoken aloud, which helps when you are comparing how a name sounds next to a surname or a sibling’s name.
How the lucky number, colour and star sign are worked out
These three facts are calculated from the spelling of Malcolm with simple, fixed rules. They are for fun and are not a prediction or a real horoscope.
Lucky number
6Each letter gets its place in the alphabet (A=1 … Z=26): M=13 + A=1 + L=12 + C=3 + O=15 + L=12 + M=13 = 69. Then the digits are added until one digit is left: 6 + 9 = 15. Then the digits are added until one digit is left: 1 + 5 = 6. Result: 6.
Favorite colour
IndigoThe lucky number picks the colour from a fixed table. Malcolm has lucky number 6, so the colour is Indigo.
Star sign
AriesOnly the first letter counts (M). The twelve signs repeat along the alphabet: A = Aries, B = Taurus … L = Pisces, then M = Aries again. It is not based on a birth date.
Nickname ideas for Malcolm
Short and affectionate forms built from the spelling of Malcolm. They are ideas, not traditional or cultural nicknames, so pick the ones that feel natural to say.
Couple names that go with Malcolm
Partner names that match Malcolm by origin, faith, length and sound (Girl names). The percentage is a style match, and the blend is a fun combined name.
How is the match % worked out?
Start at 60. Same origin +9, same faith +6, similar length up to +8, different first letter +5, same last two letters +3 (maximum 99). Blend = first half of one name + second half of the other.
Blend ideas: Malcolm + Saoirse = Malcrse · Malcolm + Shannon = Malcnon · Malcolm + Deirdre = Malcdre · Malcolm + Brigita = Malcita
Sibling names for Malcolm
Names that sit well next to Malcolm: similar origin and style, with a close length, sound or ending.
How are siblings chosen?
Start at 45. Same origin +10, same faith +8, same first letter +8, same last two letters +8, close length up to +10, close syllables up to +8, very similar spelling +6. Brothers and sisters are ranked separately.
Brother names
Sister names
Twin name ideas for Malcolm
If Malcolm is one twin’s name, these pair with it in different ways. Each percentage shows how well the pair fits that style.
How are twin names scored?
Same scoring as couples, plus a style bonus: Same first letter +18 (else −8), Same ending +18 (else −6), Balanced +5 for a different first letter and +3 for the same ending.
Same first letter
Same ending
Balanced match
Names with a similar meaning
Names whose meaning shares a key idea with Malcolm (follower, saint).
How are similar meanings found?
We take the first two meaningful words of the meaning (4+ letters, common words removed) and list names whose meaning contains the same word.
Frequently asked questions
What does Malcolm mean?
Malcolm means “Follower of saint columba” and is of Gaelic origin.
What is the origin of Malcolm?
In our collection Malcolm is listed as a name of Gaelic origin.
Is Malcolm a boy or a girl name?
Malcolm is listed as a boy name.
What is the lucky number for Malcolm?
By name numerology (A=1 … Z=26) the lucky number for Malcolm is 6, with the star sign Aries. This is for entertainment only.
How do you pronounce Malcolm?
Malcolm has 2 syllables. Use the listen button on this page to hear it spoken aloud.
What are some nicknames for Malcolm?
Spelling-based nickname ideas for Malcolm include Ma, Mal, Malc, Malco, Olm, Maly.
Which names have a similar meaning to Malcolm?
Names with a related meaning include Dimitri, Cristina, Christina, Christine, Cristian, Cristhian.