Naming your baby boy or girl is one of the most important and exciting decisions you’ll make as a parent. You want to find a name that will be meaningful to your child throughout their life, so it can feel like a lot of pressure. How can you choose the best name for your little one?
If you have decided on the first name Malcolm for your baby boy, you’re in good company! Malcolm is a handsome name that has stood the test of time. Likewise, Malcolm is a strong, classic name with a great meaning. Plus, the nickname “Mac” is sure to be popular with friends.
Now that you know you love the first name Malcolm for your baby boy, how do you decide on a middle name? Which name could be the best partner for your Malcolm?
A name like Malcolm needs an equally strong and masculine middle name to go with it. Malcolm is a Scottish name meaning “disciple of Saint Columba.” It can also be a variation of the Irish name Malcolm, which means “chief” or “leader.” Traditionally, it was used by Kings and Princes of Scotland, including Malcolm III and Malcolm IV.
In more recent years, it was the name of author Malcolm Lowry and actor Malcolm McDowell. Probably most popular and well known is Malcolm X, an African-American Muslim minister and human rights activist during the civil rights movement.
Malcolm is a strong name with many different meanings. It’s a popular name in Scotland and has been used by royalty and famous people throughout history, making it likely that Malcolm will never go out of style. Lastly, if you’d like to make the name more unique, there are different ways to spell Malcolm, such as Malkom and Malcum.
Famous People Named Malcolm
There have been many famous people named Malcolm throughout history. Some of the most notable include:
Malcolm III and IV – Kings of Scotland
Malcolm X (Malcolm Little) – American Muslim minister and human rights activist
Malcolm Lowry – English poet and novelist
Malcolm McDowell – actor and producer
Choosing the Best Middle Name for Malcolm
Family Ties
There are plenty of family members who could be sources of inspiration, such as uncles, grandfathers, brothers, or cousins.
Think of anyone in your family whom you might wish to honor or pay tribute. Does their first or middle name sound great with Malcolm?
In our family, my sons carried on the names William and Maxwell from family members. You could also consider a gender neutral name if a grandmother or sister has a name you love. Looking through your family tree is a wonderful way to find a name that would be meaningful to your family.
If you like the idea of a traditional middle name with a complementary meaning to Malcolm, here are some traditional middle names to consider:
Alexander – “defender of men”
William – “valiant protector”
Edward – “guardian of prosperity”
Gregory – “watchful, alert”
Harvey – “blazing”
Stewart – “steward” or “caretaker”
Everett – “strong as a boar”
Special Places
Is there a special place that is meaningful to your family? A traditional family vacation spot or birthplace or city with lots of memories?
Maybe you could choose your son’s middle name for a place with personal significance. Did you travel to a beautiful city once? Do you have precious memories of a particular spot? I used to walk the trails of a gorgeous park called Percy Warner, and I always thought the name Warner could be a great name for a little boy.
Common city inspired names that could partner well with Malcolm include Chandler, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix, and Frederick. You may also consider shortened versions of city or town names; for example, “Knox” for Knoxville or “Nash” for Nashville. Or maybe you love the place where you married, or even where you conceived your baby boy!
Celebrity Names
Why not consider a celebrity name for your baby’s middle name? This could be a great way to pay tribute to someone you admire or have been inspired by.
Maybe the celebrity is a TV star or actor, but it could also be an author, speaker, or philanthropist. Is there anyone well-known whose name you have thought, “That’s a cool name!”
My friend always liked Tom Cruise movies, but instead of Tom, she chose the name “Cruz” for her son. Many actors go by middle names as well, which shows just how powerful middle names can be!
Some of our favorite TV characters chose their children’s names for beloved family members. Consider that Kate from This Is Us named her son “Jack” for her late father. And in the ever-relatable Parenthood series, Amber named her son “Zeke” for her late grandfather whom she dearly loved. Television and songs can unwittingly inspire perfect names!
Nature Inspired
What are your favorite places in nature? Do you like hiking, swimming, canoeing, camping, or bike riding? Harvey Park, Benson Park, Edwin Warner Park, and Franklin Park are some of my favorite spots – and also possible ideas for boy names! You could also get more specific and choose a name inspired directly from nature, such as Bear, Forrest, Clint, Birch, Ash, Aspen, Lake, Linden, Reed, West, or Winter. If you love nature, the elements, space, flowers, trees, or even space, then choosing a middle name for Malcolm that speaks to this aspect of your personality could be a special way to honor your love of nature!
Favorite Books or Shows
Another option is to choose a name inspired by your favorite book, television show, or movie. This could be a great way to introduce your child to some of your favorite things.
Growing up, my brother’s favorite books were the stories of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. When he had a son, he still wanted a classic type of name (so Huckleberry didn’t make the cut), but he loved either Finn or Sawyer!
Books can be a wonderful source for inspiration because the names are often unique. If you’re not a big reader, then maybe your favorite movies or television shows have interesting character names. Perhaps a last name would even work for your son’s middle name! From TV series that are popular right now, there’s Thomas, Barry, Archer, Sawyer, Jack, and Jameson.
Syllable Balance
Besides inspiration for names, there are other factors to consider when choosing the best middle name for Malcolm. Creating a balance between syllables in each name can be a helpful way to find a middle name you love.
For example, let’s consider how many syllables are in your last name. Malcolm is a two-syllable name, so whether your last name is short or long, Malcolm could work well with many middle names.
Malcolm James Radcliffe works as well as Malcolm James Fenbury. However, if your last name is only one syllable, then a one-syllable middle name may feel too short and choppy.
For example, Malcolm James Reed could work – but it feels a little stunted. A middle name with at least two syllables would be a better choice. Sometimes, in order to create a balance of syllables, it can be helpful to switch your child’s names around but still call your son by his middle name.
In this way, you can make the name flow no matter which middle name you choose!
Cadence
Lastly, an important factor to consider is cadence! This can be a great way to add extra flair to your baby’s name.
For those of us who don’t have a musical background, cadence is simply the flow or rhythm of a set of sounds or words. It’s that special thing that makes music and words and names sound pleasing or memorable to our ears.
Cadence can be achieved in many ways, including balancing syllables as we discussed above, but the best test is to say your son’s whole name aloud and see how it sounds. Does it flow and sound nice together? Does it elicit feelings of happiness and completion? Then you’re onto something!
Now without further delay, let’s look at some of the best middle names for Malcolm!
Best Middle Names for Malcolm
Malcolm Abbott
Malcolm Alastair
Malcolm Albert
Malcolm Alexander
Malcolm Andrew
Malcolm Angus
Malcolm Archer
Malcolm Archie
Malcolm Arthur
Malcolm Asher
Malcolm August
Malcolm Augustus
Malcolm Avery
Malcolm Beckett
Malcolm Benjamin
Malcolm Bradford
Malcolm Briar
Malcolm Brooke
Malcolm Bruno
Malcolm Cade
Malcolm Caleb
Malcolm Callum
Malcolm Campbell
Malcolm Caspar
Malcolm Cedric
Malcolm Charles
Malcolm Christopher
Malcolm Clarke
Malcolm Colin
Malcolm Cormac
Malcolm Cruz
Malcolm Curtis
Malcolm Cyrus
Malcolm Daniel
Malcolm David
Malcolm Dean
Malcolm Declan
Malcolm Desmond
Malcolm Dexter
Malcolm Dillard
Malcolm Dominic
Malcolm Donald
Malcolm Douglas
Malcolm Duncan
Malcolm Edward
Malcolm Eli
Malcolm Elias
Malcolm Elijah
Malcolm Elliot
Malcolm Elliott
Malcolm Ellis
Malcolm Emerson
Malcolm Evan
Malcolm Evander
Malcolm Everett
Malcolm Ewan
Malcolm Ezra
Malcolm Fergus
Malcolm Finley
Malcolm Forrest
Malcolm Francis
Malcolm Franklin
Malcolm Frazier
Malcolm Gavin
Malcolm Geriant
Malcolm Giles
Malcolm Gordon
Malcolm Graham
Malcolm Grant
Malcolm Gregor
Malcolm Gregory
Malcolm Harrison
Malcolm Henry
Malcolm Hugh
Malcolm Hughes
Malcolm Hugo
Malcolm Ian
Malcolm Indigo
Malcolm Isaac
Malcolm Ivan
Malcolm Ivor
Malcolm Jacob
Malcolm Jake
Malcolm James
Malcolm Jameson
Malcolm Jared
Malcolm Jason
Malcolm Jasper
Malcolm John
Malcolm Jonah
Malcolm Joseph
Malcolm Joshua
Malcolm Jude
Malcolm Julian
Malcolm Julius
Malcolm Kade
Malcolm Kieran
Malcolm Killian
Malcolm Kurt
Malcolm Lake
Malcolm Landry
Malcolm Lane
Malcolm Lawrence
Malcolm Leander
Malcolm Lee
Malcolm Leo
Malcolm Liam
Malcolm Lionel
Malcolm Lloyd
Malcolm Louis
Malcolm Lucas
Malcolm Lucian
Malcolm Nathaniel
Malcolm Neal
Malcolm Nestor
Malcolm Neville
Malcolm Nicholas
Malcolm Noah
Malcolm Oliver
Malcolm Owen
Malcolm Patrick
Malcolm Peter
Malcolm Philip
Malcolm Phineas
Malcolm Pierce
Malcolm Quade
Malcolm Reid
Malcolm Remy
Malcolm Reynolds
Malcolm Rhys
Malcolm Robert
Malcolm Roger
Malcolm Rohan
Malcolm Ross
Malcolm Samuel
Malcolm Scott
Malcolm Sean
Malcolm Sebastian
Malcolm Seth
Malcolm Silas
Malcolm Simon
Malcolm Sinclair
Malcolm Soren
Malcolm Stone
Malcolm Storm
Malcolm Stuart
Malcolm Swade
Malcolm Thaddeus
Malcolm Theodore
Malcolm Thomas
Malcolm Timothy
Malcolm Tobias
Malcolm Tolliver
Malcolm Tristan
Malcolm Vincent
Malcolm Walker
Malcolm Wallace
Malcolm Walter
Malcolm Wesley
Malcolm William
Malcolm Winston
Malcolm Wyatt
Malcolm Xavier
Malcolm Zachary
Malcolm Zane
Final Thoughts
With many different meanings and a long history of usage by famous people, Malcolm is sure to make your son stand out. Between our list of names and the naming tools provided above, we hope you can find an unbeatable middle name for your Malcolm. If you decide to go with one of the middle names on the list, let us know in the comments below. Congratulations on your newest family member!
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Disclaimer
All material provided on this website is for your information only and should not be construed as medical advice or instruction. Please consult with a medical professional regarding any matters related to the health and well-being of yourself or others. The information and opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate based on my best judgement. Readers who fail to consult with a medical professional assume the risk of any injuries.
