Fun Facts About the Name Malo
- 75 babies named Malo: U.S. records list 75 babies given the name Malo from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Malo Mean?
Malo is the Breton form of the name of Saint Malo, a monk from Britain who became one of the founding saints of Brittany. The same name is recorded in Latin as Machutus and Maclovius, and it appears in Welsh sources as Machlou; the Breton Malo and the French Maclou descend from that older name.
The older elements are Brythonic, the Celtic speech of Britain and Brittany. The first element is generally connected with a word for "pledge" or "hostage," represented by Welsh mach. The second element is often explained as "light," which yields the traditional sense "pledge of light," but the reconstruction is not settled and the second element is the uncertain part. This meaning should be treated as the customary interpretation of a reconstructed name rather than a firm translation.
The Breton name is distinct from the Spanish and Italian adjective malo ("bad"), with which it is sometimes confused.
Malo Name History & Origins
Saint Malo lived in the late sixth and early seventh centuries. He was born in Britain, with tradition placing his birth in Wales, and became a monk. Later accounts link him with Saint Brendan the Navigator and describe him traveling to Armorica, the region that is now Brittany. There he became bishop of Aleth, and the settlement that grew around his monastery took his name; it is now the port town of Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast. He is counted among the seven founding saints of Brittany, and his feast day is November 15. Much of his surviving biography is hagiographic and contains legendary material, so the outline of his life rests on tradition rather than contemporary records.
The personal name took the form Malo in Brittany. French uses the parallel form Maclou, which survives in church dedications such as Saint-Maclou in Rouen. From Brittany the name also became a surname, and it was carried to other French-speaking regions, including Quebec. Malo is used as a first name in France and in Breton-speaking areas, and it also occurs as a given name in English-speaking countries.
How Popular is the Name Malo?
Malo has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #3,517 in 1972.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,493 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #10,375 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #13,410 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #10,339 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #12,516 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,668 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #6,409 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #4,610 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #5,699 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #3,601 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #3,517 | 9 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Malo Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Malo's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Malo's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.