What does Abraham mean?
From the Hebrew Avraham, “father of many.” Abraham is the patriarch of three faiths.
What does Malachi mean?
From the Hebrew Malʾakhi, “my messenger.” Malachi is the last of the Hebrew prophets.
Abraham vs Malachi
Which is more popular?
Malachi is more popular than Abraham today: about 2,692 US babies were given the name Malachi in 2025, compared with 1,664 named Abraham.
| Abraham | Malachi | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Father of multitudes | My messenger |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AY-bruh-ham | MAL-uh-ky |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2016 (2,584) | 2006 (2,776) |
| In 2025 | 1,664 | 2,692 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Abraham
Malachi
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Abraham | Malachi |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10,755 | 14,631 |
| 2010s | 22,220 | 24,588 |
| 2000s | 19,854 | 20,780 |
| 1990s | 13,021 | 3,525 |
| 1980s | 8,691 | 746 |
| 1970s | 5,138 | 390 |
| 1960s | 2,711 | 108 |
| 1950s | 2,918 | 155 |
| 1940s | 2,235 | 183 |
| 1930s | 2,500 | 172 |
| 1920s | 5,114 | 185 |
| 1910s | 6,040 | 156 |
| 1900s | 1,145 | 51 |
| 1890s | 849 | 30 |
| 1880s | 776 | 58 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Abraham or Malachi more popular?
Malachi is more popular than Abraham today: about 2,692 US babies were given the name Malachi in 2025, compared with 1,664 named Abraham.
What is the difference between Abraham and Malachi?
Abraham means Father of multitudes (Hebrew origin), while Malachi means My messenger (Hebrew origin).
Which name is older, Abraham or Malachi?
In US records, Abraham first appears in 1880 and Malachi in 1880, so Abraham has the longer recorded history.