Total births
4,058
Girls' name · since 1886
Malena
Since 1886, U.S. Social Security records show 4,058 babies named Malena, peaking in 2004. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2468
- among girls today
- 4,058
- born since 1886
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other girls
Malena currently ranks #2468 among girls' names in America, with 4,058 babies recorded since 1886.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Malena has been recorded 4,058 times among girls since 1886, currently ranked #2468 nationally and more common than 86% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 2000s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 2025.
- #2468 among girls today
- 4,058 born since 1886
- 2000s peak decade
- 86% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Malena is currently the #2468 girls' name in America, more common than 86% of girls - 4,058 born since 1886, peaking in the 2000s.
- #2468
- among girls today
- 4,058
- born since 1886
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other girls
Malena vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#2468
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 86% of names given to girls today.
2000s
Peak decade
30% of everyone ever named Malena was born in this single decade.
2004
Single peak year
146 babies were named Malena in 2004 - its busiest year on record.
How Malena compares
4,058 Top 15% higher than 85% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Malena's all-time total is 11x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Malena | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,058 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 146 | 48 | 19,840 |
Malena's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Malena's SSA record in two at 1988 and the more recent half accounts for 78% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 22%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1936, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2004 peak of 146, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Malena at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2004
Current rank
#2,468
Active since
1886
Malena popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–2025
- Peak year (2004)
- 146
- Annual births at peak, across 140 years of records
Malena by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Malena's strongest decade.
1,234 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Malena births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 6
1880s
6 births
- 1920s 6
1920s
6 births
- 1930s 11
1930s
11 births
- 1950s 45
1950s
45 births
- 1960s 111
1960s
111 births
- 1970s 462
1970s
462 births
- 1980s 288
1980s
288 births
- 1990s 483
1990s
483 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,234 births
- 2010s
2010s
976 births
- 2020s 436
2020s
436 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,234 births (30% of all-time use).
How Malena compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Malena's total volume
Malena vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Malena by state
Where Malena concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 561 | 13.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 180 | 4.4% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | | 159 | 3.9% |
| #4 | Florida | | 152 | 3.7% |
| #5 | New York | | 140 | 3.4% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 88 | 2.2% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 60 | 1.5% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 45 | 1.1% |
California share of Malena's total US births 13.8%
Even split
561 of 4,058 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 25 reporting states.
Malena appears in 25 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Malena? ▼
4,058 babies have been named Malena since 1886. It currently ranks #2468 among girls. The peak year was 2004 with 146 births.
When was Malena most popular? ▼
Malena was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,234 total births. The single peak year was 2004.
Where is Malena most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Malena are California (561 births), Texas (180 births), Pennsylvania (159 births).
How long has the name Malena been used? ▼
Records for Malena go back to 1886, giving 140 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Malena? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Mallory, Malia, Malinda, Maliyah, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Malena's data
- Malena's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (1,234 total births) through the 2020s (436) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Malenas (561 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Malena
Nearby Names Like Malena
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Malena
Mallory Girl
#412 59,044 births
Malia Girl
#328 31,606 births
Malinda Girl
#2857 21,464 births
Maliyah Girl
#589 15,359 births
Malaysia Girl
#855 11,031 births
Compare Malena side by side: Malena vs Mallory Malena vs Malia Malena vs Malinda
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Malena
Zaida #2467
3,929 births · Peak 2011
Melia #2469
5,321 births · Peak 2006
Jesse #2466
12,492 births · Peak 1981
Olympia #2470
3,644 births · Peak 1981
Katy #2465
20,952 births · Peak 1987
Loren #2471
12,841 births · Peak 1990
Imogene #2464
27,901 births · Peak 1927
Dianna #2472
56,292 births · Peak 1957
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1886–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Malena: #2468 Girls' Name - 4,058 Births, Peak 2004." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/malena. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Malena draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.