Malachi is a Hebrew name for a prophet in the Old Testament of the Bible. It means "messenger of God" and may not have been a proper name at all – just a word for a prophet. In the Bible, Malachi wrote about the coming of a messiah.
The name is particularly popular in English-, Gaelic-, and Hebrew-speaking countries. In fact, St. Malachy of the Roman Catholic Church was the first Irishman to be declared a saint.
Malachi is a meaningful name that can be a bit of a mouthful to pronounce and even more tricky to spell. It is pronounced "MAL-a-kye" and there are many variations on the traditional spelling, including Malakai, Malaki, Malakhi, Malachai, and Malachy. Potential nicknames for this three-syllable name include Mal, Mally, and Kai.
Malachi is a masculine name that has risen in the charts among with similar biblical names like Isaac and Gabriel. The name first appeared in the top 1,000 U.S. baby names in 1902. It's fluctuated in popularity over the past century, but has remained a top-200 name since 2003, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
Malachi is a name that's sure to stand out, yet familiar enough to not draw too much attention. It's classic, with religious significance and a rich history. With its deep meaning and modern appeal, you can expect to see this name, and all its variations, continue to show up in the popularity charts.
Malachi Barton : Actor who appeared in many Disney films and shows
Malachi Favors : American jazz musician
Malachi Kirby : English actor best known for his role in the 2006 Roots film remake
Malachi Martin : Irish-American Catholic priest and writer
Malachi Pearson : American actor best known for voicing Casper the friendly ghost in the movie Casper
Malachi Throne : American stage and television actor best known for his guest appearances in many science fiction TV shows
Malachy McCourt : Irish-American actor, writer, and politician who ran for New York governor as a Green Party candidate in 2006